The best way to avoid contracting Hep C and other blood-borne viruses such as HIV/AIDS and Hep B is not to inject. Injecting is the greatest single risk factor for contracting Hep C.

If you are Hep C positive it is still important to protect yourself AND practice safe injecting to reduce the chance of passing on Hep C to another injector. You can also be re-infected with a different or the same strain of Hep C or with Hep B or HIV/AIDS.

Safer injecting practices can prevent the transmission of Hep C and other blood-borne viruses such as HIV/AIDS and Hep B. It can also help prevent dirty hits, bruising, blood poisoning, abscesses and vein damage.

If injecting drugs, it is important to do so safely and as carefully as you can. The best way to play it safe is to always inject with a new fit, new sterile water, new swabs (at least one to swab your spoon and one to swab your injecting site), a clean tourniquet, a clean filter, a clean injecting space, clean hands and an approved disposal bin.