The Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL) Education Program thanks all the users across Australia who helped to make this site possible. Our aim is to raise awareness of hepatitis C (Hep C) and other blood borne viruses, such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B among people who chose to inject - because injecting involves blood.

A blood borne virus (BBV) means that the virus IS TRANSMITTED BY BLOOD. So every time you come into contact with someone else's blood you need to be aware of how to handle blood or use "Universal Safety Precautions."*

At AIVL, we want users to know that if you share or re-use anyone else's injecting equipment, even once, you could get Hep C. You need to be blood aware to prevent Hep C through safer injecting and drug use practices. We value peer education, users educating users, as a means of getting this message across and to impact on the spread of Hep C.

Who is this site for and why?

This is a site designed by and for people who use amphetamines and similar illicit drugs with an aim to share information, knowledge and experience.

Psychostimulants - come in two forms, amphetamine sulphate and crystal methamphetamine but are know by a variety of names - speed, whiz, goey, fast, shabu, ice, glass, base, meth, crystal meth, crystal, tina and uppers, to name a few. Psychostimulants are also known as amphetamine type substances (ATSs). Amphetamines are stimulants - meaning they speed up activity in the brain and central nervous system.

User - person who uses drugs.

Peer education - users sharing knowledge and experiences with other users to educate each other about drug use and the possible harms associated with illicit drug use.

AIVL believes peer education is the best way for critical health info to reach drug users who aren't in contact with services around their drug use. We hope you use and share this info with your mates to avoid getting Hep C, Hep B and/or HIV/AIDS.

^{*"Universal precautions," as defined by CDC, are a set of precautions designed to prevent transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and other blood borne pathogens when providing first aid or health care. Under universal precautions, blood and certain body fluids of all patients are considered potentially infectious for HIV, HCV and other blood borne pathogens.}

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention