Reducing the harm

The Drug Foundation’s message is clear: no drug use is the safest drug use. However, we know there will be occasions when people ignore warnings and use drugs in a dangerous manner. To help keep communities safe we therefore provide information about proven methods of drug harm reduction.

Because cocaine is highly addictive, and the initial euphoria wears off quickly, it is important users do not feed their cravings by repeating cocaine use (bingeing) to achieve the desired effect. Possessing large amounts of cocaine at one time should be avoided as this can encourage bingeing.

Studies show that shared straws (used for sniffing or ‘snorting’) can cause the spread of blood borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis so utensils used for snorting cocaine or other drugs should never be shared.

Some people use cocaine intravenously. This seriously increases the risk of infectious diseases – such as hepatitis and HIV – and skin infections. Always use clean needles obtained from a needle exchange service to minimise these risks. www.needle.co.nz.

Never share needles, syringes or other injecting equipment.

Unsanitary injecting environments also increase the risk of contracting infections. It is important that ones hands and the site of injection is clean. This will help reduce the risk of infection.