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People often get curious about injecting because they hear others talk about it and see them do it.

Many injectors say things like:

“My mates were all doing it”

“I had seen others do it”

“I was with experienced injectors”

You inject but that doesn’t mean you want to encourage others to do the same.

Without meaning to, that’s exactly what you could be doing by:

• Talking about injecting in front of non-injectors
• Injecting in front of non-injectors
• Giving people their first hit.

Think back to your own first hit.

What were the things that made you want to try it?

If you avoid doing those things that encourage others to want to start injecting, you are helping to break the cycle of injecting.

Talking about injecting
Even if you tell people that you regret having started injecting, and talk about the risks and dangers, they often only remember the ‘good’ things that you say about it - how it is a better rush, that you get more drug for your money etc. When they hear the bad things they often think, ‘That won’t be me. I’ll be different.’

The effect of this can be to make injecting sound dangerous, but also exciting.

The best advice is not to talk about injecting to people who don’t already do it.

Injecting in front of people who don’t inject

Seeing someone inject can be a much more powerful influence than simply hearing about it. It can make injecting seem easy, more normal and more like something that they could do.

If you can, avoid injecting in front of non-injectors.

Giving someone their first hit
Rehearse what you can say to someone who asks you to give them their first hit.

You can explain why you won’t inject them by telling them that:

• By starting to inject, they will be at much greater risk of overdose, hepatitis and HIV
• You will feel in some way responsible for what happens to them if you give them that first hit
• You can’t know what their tolerance is - if they overdose and die, you could be charged with manslaughter
• You don’t want hassle from people who find out that it was you that ‘helped’ them start injecting.

Remember that refusing to inject someone is doing them a favour - even if they don’t see it like that at the time.

Think about it. Help break the cycle.

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