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Endocarditis
It’s a killer. It’s like an abscess on your heart.
People who inject drugs are at Very High Risk for deadly infections.
How to prevent infections in your heart, lungs and brain?
- Clean your skin with rubbing alcohol wherever you’re going to inject. Your skin is covered in germs you don’t see.
- Don’t reuse your own needle: Germs are growing in it, and those germs will get injected into you!
- Always use clean works: Never reuse them.
What to do if you have an abscess.
- Go see a doctor immediately.
- Doctors do not call the police; they do treat your abscess.
Responding to an Overdose
- Call 911
Say “My friend is unconscious and I can’t wake them up” or “My friend isn’t breathing.” - Rescue Breathing
If they’re not breathing, make sure there is nothing in the mouth; tilt head back; lift chin; pinch nose; give a breath every 5 seconds; watch for their chest to rise with each breath. - Stay with the person
Whether or not the person needs rescue breathing, stay until help arrives. Give naloxone (Narcan) if you have it. - If you need to leave, even briefly:
Put them in the Recovery Position so they won’t choke.
Signs of an Opioid Overdose
- Deep Snoring
- Turning blue (lips, fingernails)
- Unresponsive, no breathing or slow breathing (less than 1 breath every 5 seconds)
Fentanyl kills, here’s how you can stay alive!
- Help each other. Don’t use alone – Pair up
- Fentanyl kills quickly. Make sure you and your friends carry naloxone.
- Fentanyl comes in pills, pure powder and powder mixed with other drugs, especially heroin and cocaine. You can’t see it, smell it or taste it. Whatever you do, start low, and go slow.
- If you think it’s an overdose, call 911. Every minute counts.
*In Kentucky you cannot be charged with possession if you are calling for help with an overdose.
How Can You Prevent Hep C?
Works, sets, rigs, gizmos. Cooker, spoon, cotton, filter, water. Whatever you call them, use them safely when you inject drugs. Hepatitis C is a virus spread through blood that can cause liver disease. So go to a needle exchange or ESAP pharmacy and take care of yourself and your friends: use a new set each time you inject.
KRS 218A.500
The health department is authorized to operate a syringe exchange program. This program provides clean hypodermic needles and syringes to injection drug users to stop the spread of Hepatitis , HIV/AIDS and other blood borne diseases and connects people to the health services they need.
