(UK) Registering with a doctor: You are entitled to register in the area where you are, without ‘proof of address’. If you are homeless, you are still entitled to register with a GP using a temporary address, which may be a friend’s address or a day centre. Some GP practices have used their own address in the past to register a homeless patient.
Accessing drug checking services not only allows users to find out what is in their drugs but also connects them with further harm reduction information and support services. One of the most effective ways to reduce drug related harm is to offer users professional drug checking while taking time to inform them about health risks, safer ingestion methods, and what to do in the event of an overdose or other emergency.
…the time you should use a swab is BEFORE injecting, ideally about 10 seconds before (to allow the alcohol to evaporate) and with just a single, firm rub on the skin. So why not use it after? Well its because alcohol thins blood, if you put it on an open wound then you will promote rather than stem the bleeding. The more you bleed, the more you bruise. Also the more you bleed the more blood you have to cross contaminate with.
The five ‘A’s (ask, assess, advise, assist and arrange) used in smoking cessation may be helpfully adapted for working with cocaine users; Ask about drug use at every opportunity. Assess users’ interest in stopping or reducing. Advise about the risks of using, and the types of treatment available. Assist users to stop or reduce harm. Arrange follow up.
“Better safe than dead” – Test your gear, start with a small amount to reduce your risk of overdose, use with a buddy, one at a time, keep NALOXONE on/near you when using, it’s no good at home if you are at a mate’s place.
The quality of any drug experience is determined not only by the drug itself (including factors like potency and purity), but also depends on how the drug is administered, the environment in which it is taken, and the mood or mindset of the individual at the time he or she takes the drug. It is therefore important for anyone who is going to take a drug to assess their mood and mindset before they get high. You should always be aware of how you’re feeling prior to altering your consciousness.
