Q: How can people who use injection drugs reduce their risk for HIV infection?

A: The CDC recommends that people who inject drugs should be regularly counseled to:

• Stop using and injecting drugs;
• Enter and complete substance abuse treatment, including relapse prevention.

For injection drug users who cannot or will not stop injecting drugs, the following steps may be taken to reduce personal and public health risks:

• Never reuse or "share" syringes, water, or drug preparation equipment;
• Only use syringes obtained from a reliable source (such as pharmacies or needle exchange programs);
• Use a new, sterile syringe to prepare and inject drugs;
• If possible, use sterile water to prepare drugs; otherwise, use clean water from a reliable source (such as fresh tap water);
• Use a new or disinfected container ("cooker") and a new filter ("cotton") to prepare drugs;
• Clean the injection site prior to injection with a new alcohol swab;
• Safely dispose of syringes after one use.
  Persons who continue to inject drugs should periodically be tested for HIV.