Ever share your gear?

[Woowoo]

A small poll to find out who's shared gear.

For purposes of this poll -- if you shared gear but went through the process of cleaning it with bleach and water then that's not considered sharing. I'm talking about nasty fluid-exchanging rig sharing.

I've done it. Nothing to be proud of, but I got lucky. How 'bout y'all?

[repeek]

The only way I have shared is when it is followed by "go ahead and keep it, its yours". Oh and I used it first.

[paper skeletons]

nope...don't share.

Big stash of free gear. No need. Can imagine I'd always have a good stash handy.

Cheers!

[Diacetyl]

Never shared a needle, mostly because clean, newer needles are free and easy to get in my town.

[chinaski]

One time with my girlfriend... I figured we've had enough sex to pass anything already... and we have both been tested and are supposedly 'clean' of the bad stuff.... then again, that same night she had a grand mal seizure from shooting coke... maybe it was a sign

[HeidiW]

Yep, the dude that taught me and Mom to shoot (I was 16, he was 42) was fixing the shots, me and Mom were too stupid to think he just might not be using clean needles.

I had Hep C within 2 months, as did my Mother.

Don't ever share rigs, not when you can get them without a script for 13 cents a piece at Wal-Mart.

[SuperJunky]

I don't like to admit it but I've shared, and w/ certain people still do. I didn't know this till years later but I probably got Hep C the very first time I ever booted up. I still haven't been tested, and really don't want to be, 3 of my friends that shared w/ me where tested and they came back positive for genotype one hepatitis C, I know I have it (and if I don't I must have the most craziest kick ass immune system ever) so I don't let any one that doesn't have it (and originally got it w/ me) to use my works, and no one shares outside of our small group (5 or 6 people, 7 if you count the one that's in Florida...) so I really don't see how it's doing any more harm. I really don't want to get diagnosed w/ it until I have some insurance that will actually do something about it. The treatments expensive and I can't afford it, the insurance I have now only covers emergency stuff (car crash, break my hand w/ a sledge hammer etc.) unless I manage to make it over my $12,000 deductible (and the insurance cost me and my parents [3 people total] about $16,000 a year!) and almost nothing counts toward that deductible (no meds, dentist, eye doctor, regular check ups).

I don't suggest any one share rigs though, it really isn't smart, you can buy them over the counter in NH and MA now so I have no excuse (I did when I started though, I first shot at 16, have to be 18 to buy them). I'll have to deal w/ this hep C thing sooner or later and that's gonna be something I'm going to have to live w/ for the rest of my life. I thought if a needle looked new and the plunger was set back a little bit it was good, always make sure that the seals break when you twist the caps off, no seal it's been open. Don't believe peoples BS, I don't understand why but a lot of people will lie about being clean or that the rigs there giving you are new. The only way to be 100% sure is to either see the bag be opened or go buy them yourself. I was given what was supposed to be a clean, new needle but it wasn't, it really sucked having to call all my friends up and tell them hey, you probably have hep C because I trusted an asshole junky...

[Woowoo]

One time with my girlfriend... I figured we've had enough sex to pass anything already...

Bingo -- that's why I did it. NOT a good excuse, but that was the thinking at the time. There are some diseases which can be passed so much more easily when sharing needles.

To make matters worse the girl that I am sharing needles with, well she's not exactly a picture of purity, I know several guys personally who had slept with her including this guy named Kevin. Then one day I see Kevin at a club and guess what... he's on a date with a GUY. Ut oh. The thought of AIDS flashed through my head. I sat down with a friend of mine and we tried to figure out what our level of exposure was. We went over who's slept with whom, who's shared needles with whom, the whole works. At the end of our investigation he summarized it in one sentence:

If one of us has AIDS, we all got AIDS.

An ugly truth that I couldn't refute. Luckily, none of us had AIDS, but looking back I should have been 1000 times more careful. I would never do dumb things like that today but when you're young and feel invulnerable you do stupid shit.

[HeidiW]

The things we won't do for a fuckin' rig when you need one, don't have one, and have dope to do.

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!
Makes the fucking hair stand-up on the back of my redneck as I think of the many, many answers to that one . . . . . . . .

[nick]

Yeah,I shared a long,LONG time ago,but I'm "clean".NO hep C or HIV for me.

Lucky me and it IS a crap shoot

I've go a lot to say here,but I'll leave it with...


IF YOU ARE GOING TO SHOOT..............SHOOT SAFE.

[HeidiW]

One last thing:

They are thirteen cents a piece at Wal-Mart and DO NOT require a prescription there!!!

No reason to share needles.

[nick]

One last thing:

They are thirteen cents a piece at Wal-Mart and DO NOT require a prescription there!!!

No reason to share needles.


As sister H wisely points out..........THERE ARE NO EXCUSES.


Sorry,but I've buried and deal with too many folks with the virus.


So,SHOOT SAFE.

[HeidiW]

Always be safe, I'll hold that dope until I get home.

[greasy_bear]

Yeah, I did 30 years ago and have HCV to show for it.
In my defense, gear was hard to get in PA back then (and still is as far as I know) and the scariest disease being passed around was hep B.
I consider myself lucky that C is all I have, although I've got a nasty strain that's fought off two rounds of interferon.

[HeidiW]

Yeah there are 4 different genotypes of Hep C.

If I recall what the Hepatologist told me, one of the genotypes is incurable. I don't remember exactly which one it is though. All I do know is, that's the one I have, along with Hep B.

Oh well, fuck it all.

[vanilla_mlkshake2007]

I will admit I did it when I was 19 and 20 years old and also that I caught Hep B & C from it which has led to 60% of my liver being hardened and grey and unrepairable.
Now you have to understand back 19 or 20 years ago in the tiny state I live in Aids was practically unheard of,and I didn't know much about shooting up drugs at all.It was my boyfriend that was into it and I begged him to try it.We were shooting cocaine back then so I would say that is alot different then shooting morphine as I do now.
Today knowing what I know I would never share needles w/ anyone ,and I never let anyone use my needles after I have used them,in fact I only use my own needles once myself unless I am down to my last couple.Thats no excuse neither.
I also want to say to all of my opiophile friends that I apologize for not being on the site much lately,but after 3 months of telling my landlord I had no heat a pipe burst in the sprinkler system in my apartment and I lost 16 + years worth of my belongings including 3 computers.
I have been moved 1 street over to the ghetto of my city (if you can call it that) and its been a long hard road getting myself back on track.Beacause it wasn't a natural disater such as flood ,fire,tornado.hurricane etc. I recieved no help whatsoever,so it has been a long process.I am however taking the landlord to small claims court seeming I had called and reported this to the landlord (slumlord for 3 and a half weeks).
I am now back online and almost went through a nervous breakdown when I lost everything.Water can do just as much damage as fire especially when its come down through a pipe at 143 gallons a minute for 45 minutes straight before someone turned the water off.
Oh well a big part of life I'd much rather leave behind me,but I am now back and I notice there are alot of new members who I get forward to getting to know and I also have a couple thousand new posts to get to read.I will try to read each and every one too.
Oh and back to the gear question I'll never forget when I had just started booting this girl left her rigs on the table and while she was gone I filled up the syringe and was getting ready to use when she comes in screaming for me not to do it.Me being the young invincible thing I thought I was at 19,said"why ?Awww C'Mon just this once?"
That is when she took me in the back room and explained to me all about she was a former hooker from N.Y.C. and that she had contacted AIDS from drug use and had also just given birth to an HIV positive baby.
I guess I can say I really owe this girl my life Literally!!!!!

[nick]

Hi Vanilla,sorry for your troubles and good to see you back.

[SuperJunky]

They are thirteen cents a piece at Wal-Mart and DO NOT require a prescription there!!!

Thats not the case where I live...

[candy]

Yeah there are 4 different genotypes of Hep C.

If I recall what the Hepatologist told me, one of the genotypes is incurable. I don't remember exactly which one it is though. All I do know is, that's the one I have, along with Hep B.

Oh well, fuck it all.


Hey Heidi,
Here in California, well where I am at, WalMart will not sell ya syringes at all without a script. I don't know if anyone else has tried WAlMart here in So Cal to buy them.

There are actually 6 types of Hep C. 1,2,3, are commonly found in the U.S. while 4,5,6 are seen in third world countries where the conditions are generally horrible.

Type 1 is the hardest to treat. 2,3 are easier to treat with a combo of Interferon and Ribaviron. I wouldn't take no for an answer though and continue to see a Hepatologist to try the lastest treatments for Hep C.

Hope you are feeling better!

[useonceanddestroy]

One last thing:

They are thirteen cents a piece at Wal-Mart and DO NOT require a prescription there!!!

No reason to share needles.

Is that anywhere? even up here in cold, isolated, North Dakota? I don't think thats true everywhere... and everyone should save some rigs... then when you get your chiba, your ready to rock...:cool:

[Papa Verine]

I admit it. I've shared a needle with another junky before and some how came out OK. It was one of those stupid things I've done while drunk that I'm not too proud of.

Fucking alcohol!!!

[nick]

I admit it. I've shared a needle with another junky before and some how came out OK. It was one of those stupid things I've done while drunk that I'm not too proud of.

Fucking alcohol!!!

Fucking alcohol,right bro!

[Woowoo]

Hey--maybe some of you have been in this situation: You're shooting up with somebody; you got your gear, they got theirs, but then all of a sudden you have this ugly thought that maybe, just maybe, the rigs got switched by accident. You put your rig on the table right over there, and now you picked one up, and waitaminute, did I pick up my rig or the other rig? Uh oh....
That's happened to me a few times, I credit it to cocaine-induced paranoia making me constantly mull-over worst case scenarios in my head. But who knows? It wouldn't be that hard of a mistake to make. Have you ever accidentally picked up somebody else's drink and swigged back a gulp? It's not that far diferent of an accident.

[nick]

Hey--maybe some of you have been in this situation: You're shooting up with somebody; you got your gear, they got theirs, but then all of a sudden you have this ugly thought that maybe, just maybe, the rigs got switched by accident. You put your rig on the table right over there, and now you picked one up, and waitaminute, did I pick up my rig or the other rig? Uh oh....
That's happened to me a few times, I credit it to cocaine-induced paranoia making me constantly mull-over worst case scenarios in my head. But who knows? It wouldn't be that hard of a mistake to make. Have you ever accidentally picked up somebody else's drink and swigged back a gulp? It's not that far diferent of an accident.

Of course.What do you expect when you're wasted.


I have an AIDS test once a year.

We ALL should.

[Skript]

Of course.What do you expect when you're wasted.


I have an AIDS test once a year.

We ALL should.

Im also a male giggalo on the side for dope when im out or broke.. So i try to get a hiv test every couple months. Gotta do what ya gotta do ya know...

[nick]

Im also a male giggalo on the side for dope when im out or broke.. So i try to get a hiv test every couple months. Gotta do what ya gotta do ya know...

Oh man.....I KNOW.


Sadly,I'm not pretty enough to be a giggalo.

[Somanax]

Oh man.....I KNOW.


Sadly,I'm not pretty enough to be a giggalo. Count yourself lucky Nick:) because sadly enough male gigolo's rarely have female clients:D




SOMANAX

[Chemical_Boy]

Even though it carries more of a social stigma, I don't think it is any worse than getting drunk and fucking somebody that you don't know without using protection.

I have never shared pins, but I did have unprotected "relations" with some shady ass people where I woke up the next day and wondered "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THINKING???? AAAHHHHH" and then got STD tests done right away, at six weeks, and at six months.

Luckily I made out clean, but that shit is just as bad as sharing gear I think.

[candy]

Sadly, even I, LOL....Shared many years back with a boyfriend who swore he was clean. I of all people should of known, but love or something like it makes it harder to question someone you think cares for you.

Now, after Hep C treatment, I wouldn't and have not done it again.

Regarless of your relationship with someone, have your own gear.
Bleaching rigs does not kill the Hep C virus and the Hep C virus can live outside the body, unlike HIV that cannot.

No one should have to worry about this anymore. Regardless of who you are you should be able to walk into a pharmacy(or Wal_Mart) and buy syringes.

While new HIV infections have dropped a bit, new HCV infections have gone up among HCV users.

As I said, HIV cannot live outside it's host(the body, syringes) But, HCV(Hep C) can live outside the body in syringes, in cottons, in the rinse water, on the spoon you use, on a straw if you snort your stuff.

Best thing to do....Do not share any of your equipment. If someone should get pissy, just let them know that you might have something you could give to them. That might shut them up.

Even if you go first and know your status is neg. , sharing still perpetuates the problem, regardless. Not everyone is as educated and the younger they are, the more likely they are willing to risk it, despite education.

[Woowoo]

Sadly, even I, LOL....Shared many years back with a boyfriend who swore he was clean.
This entire poll, the tally above (close to 50/50) and comments like that one, all work together to make me feel better. I mean, yeah I'm an idiot, but at least I'm not the King of the Idiots.

[candy]

This entire poll, the tally above (close to 50/50) and comments like that one, all work together to make me feel better. I mean, yeah I'm an idiot, but at least I'm not the King of the Idiots.


No your not the king of idiots and not an idiot at all!

You can put all the info out there, teach it, push it, make it all available, but when it comes down to it.....It becomes personal choice.

Just because you shared a needle or didn't protect yourself during sex, does not make you a bad person, just one willing to take more risks.

And those who take more dangerous risks, such as sharing needles, unprotected sex with a sex worker or new partner, are generally those with a more riskier life style. Not hard to figure out, but I wanted it said!

I'm no better than anyone else and I was someone who was a nurse and a full time opiate addict. I would go to any lengths to get high, but there were some lines that from past experience, that I would not cross!

The best way to get the message around is to spread it. Don't have to preach it up and down the streets or drive you friends, or those you use with with textbook material on it all. But by being a role model and and casually saying to someone for instance,"Hey, don't let anyone else use your equipment, who knows what they have!" Can really go along way.

With all the research they have done, peer education is the best way to go about educating users and non-users about safe-injecting, safe sex, etc.
Think of how great you would feel if someone came to you and said,"Hey, I listened to what you said and got my own kit together so I don't need to share anymore!"
You are going to be fucking elated, believe me!

Anyway, enough of my preaching, LOL Just something I am very passionate about harm reduction, and after trusting a lover(uh-huh!!!) and believing he was HCV neg. I am even more passionate about this.
He knew he was pos. for Hep C, but didn't care one way or the other. What did I know, I was in love(or so I thought) and trusted that someone who said they cared meant it.

NO more of that shit for me!

Please feel free anyone to PM me with questions, concerns, and anything else you might not want to share in the forums.

Love ya all!

[Dolomiti]

Even though it carries more of a social stigma, I don't think it is any worse than getting drunk and fucking somebody that you don't know without using protection.

I have never shared pins, but I did have unprotected "relations" with some shady ass people where I woke up the next day and wondered "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THINKING???? AAAHHHHH" and then got STD tests done right away, at six weeks, and at six months.

Luckily I made out clean, but that shit is just as bad as sharing gear I think.

Technically, transmission rates of sharing needles probably are much higher than with unprotected sex.. and depends on the type of sex though too (probably isn't a coincidence that gay males have much higher HIV rates than the rest of the population in the USA is it?). But you have a point, each can be very dangerous.
I mostly just want to point this out as extra caution for anyone... just because you have sex with someone, there still may be disease that hasn't transferred but may be much more likely to transfer if you share gear.


On the subject of sharing, I wonder how common it is to simply share the solution? Two needles from the same spoon. Apparently some users (I dont know about opiophile but ive heard in variuos cities) don't think it's dangerous.

[Frozen]

But, HCV(Hep C) can live outside the body in syringes, in cottons, in the rinse water, on the spoon you use, on a straw if you snort your stuff.


It can??? How long can the hep c virus survive on a bloodless surface, like a straw for instance?
Longer than a minute or two? Longer than 10 minutes?

[HeidiW]

I know I've read that Hep C can live in the air for 24 hours.

[oxydose]

The only way I have shared is when it is followed by "go ahead and keep it, its yours". Oh and I used it first.

yup

[Majortom]

I shared 20 years ago since than I am very careful about it. But shit happened I ve got Hep-C as well so needless to say pls. Do not Share yr. needlles.
Hep-C is the most dangerous type of Hepatites. İf not cured can lead to sirouses or liver cancer. I was told 2 yrs ago that I was pozitif.
There are couple of different combined cures for Hep-C. It is a long treatment may take up to 2 yrs. The medicine used in this period may cause sensitiveness which may lead to depression so theraphy was adviced to me along with the medication. I couldn't finish mine for obvious reasons.
So I don't no any further but what I know is Nevr Share your needle...

[RxQueen]

oops. i just voted "no" but then remembered that i very likely did. situation exactly like someone (was it woowoo?) stated earlier.... riggin up coke with someone, and picked up our tools, then realized that neither of us was sure we didn't have each others'. and we had unprotected sex that night. i'm pretty sure i'm due for a karmic spankin.... i'm usually the one harping on people about harm reduction.

[ILLWILLMD]

In NY, they ID you if they think you are under 18 or could be anyway, they will not sell to you. I know the day I ended up with hep c, and it was the day I had a 20 min long argument with the pharmacist about how unjust of a law it is, and she wouldn’t even admit that is a crap law let alone true a blind eye to it. So I have a good mind to go back with my test results and my newly acquired id and show her the situation provoked. I am not putting all the responsibility on her. I was the one whom made the bad decision not to wait 5 hrs till I could get back home, but if she did what her conscience told her to do. I would have not gotten it. Equally if I did what my conscience told me to do, I also wouldn’t have it. But the point I am trying to make is that harm reduction material should not be age biased. If a 13 year old is gunna do dope with or without a new poker. Lack of a new one isn’t gunna stop him. And that’s my 2 cents.

[0piB|i$$1988]

fuuuuuck i cant believe i just read that u can get hep from sharing the straw u snort u stuff w/..wut r the symptoms if u have it? god ive shared straws n dollar bills with so many fuckin ppl when i was into coke, im offically scared now

[greasy_bear]

fuuuuuck i cant believe i just read that u can get hep from sharing the straw u snort u stuff w/..wut r the symptoms if u have it? god ive shared straws n dollar bills with so many fuckin ppl when i was into coke, im offically scared now
One of the fucked up things about Hep C is that most people don't have any symptoms for years and years. Consistently elevated (2 X Normal range) liver enzymes for no good reason is an indication that something may be up. While the virus may survive on the straw, it still has to find a way into your bloodstream, such as open sores in your nose. From what I've read, while that route of transmission is possible, it's extremely unlikely.
Everyone should be tested in my opinion.
A significant percentage of those infected claim no risk factors at all.
You can get the virus off of an improperly sterilized dental instrument.
BTW, most of the people infected die from some reason other than complications caused by HVC.
The danger in not knowing is that some activities considered normal (ie drinking a moderate amount of EtOH or taking tylenol) kick an infected liver's ass.

[candy]

It can??? How long can the hep c virus survive on a bloodless surface, like a straw for instance?
Longer than a minute or two? Longer than 10 minutes?


There is so much misinformation out there. Heidi had it about right! Hep C can live outside the body from about 16-24 hours.


http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/hepatitis.asp

There is a great amount of info on this site and everyone who has ever shared should be tested. And remember that sex can transmit Hep C and B. If a women is menstruating you increase your risk during sex.

Better to know than not to know and there are clinics and health departments that can test at no cost.

Many IV users are now showing up with Hep C from using ten years ago, when even then not that much was known.

If you are positive. There is treatment. I went through treatment and continue to be at undetectable levels for the virus.

Look at it this way...Would you let someone brush their teeth with your toothbrush. We are talking about a friend, not a lover you trust! Most likely not, so why share your injection equipment.

[Chipper]

I don't like to admit it but I've shared, and w/ certain people still do. I didn't know this till years later but I probably got Hep C the very first time I ever booted up. I still haven't been tested, and really don't want to be, 3 of my friends that shared w/ me where tested and they came back positive for genotype one hepatitis C...

Hep C can leave the body by itself. Not wanting to raise false hope but you may not have Hep C. I know many people who have had Hep C and have shaken it off by using Ribavarin + Interferon together (for a few months).

Go and get yourself checked - you may be pleasantly surprised.

[candy]

Hep C can leave the body by itself. Not wanting to raise false hope but you may not have Hep C. I know many people who have had Hep C and have shaken it off by using Ribavarin + Interferon together (for a few months).

Go and get yourself checked - you may be pleasantly surprised.


Well, I wouldn't put it in those terms of just leaving the body, but your right in that the body or immune system is able to fight the virus. It is unknown why some can clear the virus and others can't. It could have something to do with the viral load or how much of the virus is in the body.

And Interferon and Ribaviron are what they use to treat Hep C. Those with Hep C type 1 are harder to treat, while 2 and 3 are easier to treat.

I was on the Pegasys and Ribaviron. Pegasys is Pegulated Interferon, which means it can be given on a weekly basis instead of a daily basis. Well there is more than it than just that, but essentially that is the outcome of pegulated Interferon.

Anyone who has shared needles or any equipment used to inject, including water should be tested. Most clinics or testing sites for HIV are now testing for HEP C or HCV as well.

Remember guys, HIV has a window period, so if you have been tested for HIV and tested neg., get another test done to make sure, especially if you have continued to share gear!

I know some of us don't want to know, but catching it early is much better than waiting until you are symptomatic and sick. I was freaked when I found out, but after treatment I was glad I did it!

So go get tested!!!!!!

[candy]

And sharing straws can give ya Hep C. When you are snorting coke or your DOC, little capillaries in the mucous membranes of the nose can burst and leave a small trace of blood on the straw or dollar bill, pen, whatever you use to snort. You don't have to see the blood to have the virus present on that straw.

Same goes with any equipment you use. I have talked to so many people who swear they never shared needles, but only shared equipment and are pos. for HCV.

HIV cannot live outside the host(the body) and anal sex is very risky because the same goes for tissue inside the anus. There are small capillaries that can break and all it takes is any type of tearing or abrasion to the skin to pass HIV/HCV. Women are at risk as well if they are having anal sex.
Use plenty of lubrication when you are having anal sex and this will reduce your risk of causing friction. And of course a condom!

I know some shrug it off, but I have given more positive results than I would like to have given and I just want to emphasize the idea of not sharing needles or equipment and the use of condoms/lubrication.

So everyone stay safe!

[tui]

I know I've read that Hep C can live in the air for 24 hours.

the brochure at my clinic says it can live up to a MONTH... and in microscopic amount that you can't see, but CAN catch...

that's why it's more catchy than hiv

t

[Synack]

<sarcasm> oh yes, spread the love. </sarcasm> I wouldn't share needle, a pipe - anything... ick.

[tui]

<sarcasm> oh yes, spread the love. </sarcasm> I wouldn't share needle, a pipe - anything... ick.

not even with me :(
??

hehe
t

[SHELLEY]

ive shared with the nastiest white people in miami

ive shared with hiv+ crack whores

ive shared without even rinsing with water first

i have no diseases and i check every month on the fifteenth

weird huh?

[SHELLEY]

Im also a male giggalo on the side for dope when im out or broke.. So i try to get a hiv test every couple months. Gotta do what ya gotta do ya know...

im the biggest ho in the 'hood, but at least im not the cheapest ho in the 'hood.

[is_today_monday]

It took me five years before I shared a needle with anyone.. Turns out they are Hep C positive.

Now I'm counting down the time before I'll know whether I contracted it or not.

It's not a good feeling, really.

[SHELLEY]

at my lowest point i picked up a needle that i found in the sand behind a convenience store, rinsed it with water, and used it to iv.

wait, that was just a couple months ago.

[tui]

at my lowest point i picked up a needle that i found in the sand behind a convenience store, rinsed it with water, and used it to iv.

wait, that was just a couple months ago.


It's surprisingly easy to forget that feeling of desperation.
You've reminded me. THAT'S why i'm cleaning up now.
Thanks...

luv,
t