There are always risks involved when using any drug; whether licit drugs (alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceuticals) or illicit drugs like psychostimulants (ice, meth, crystal).

For psychostimulant users, Hep C transmission, as well as HIV/AIDS and Hep B, is a real concern particularly through injecting. Frequency of injecting was identified as an important element in Hep C transmission according to the Psychostimulant User Report.

The Psychostimulant User Report identified a number of key Hep C (HCV) education issues emerging such as:

• A lack of blood awareness, including engagement in high risk activities such as injecting others;
• A lack of general health protection behaviours such as hand washing before and after injecting; and
• A lack of information amongst amphetamine users on Hep C (HCV).

The transmission of blood borne viruses isn't easy. It actually involves getting someone else's blood into your blood stream.

Injecting with used, dirty or shared needles or other injecting equipment (filters, water, spoons, tourniquets) makes you more likely to become infected with Hep C, Hep B and/or HIV/AIDS, you may get blood poisoning (septicaemia) or skin abscesses (sores with pus).