Stimulants such as tobacco, cocaine, chocolate, coffee and black tea send your body into action mode. They make your heart work harder by causing your veins to tighten and shrink, squeezing more blood towards the heart. When veins shrink, they are harder to find to inject. This could lead to misses, vein damage, and abscesses. Smaller veins also restrict blood flow and increase blood pressure.

Many stimulants are toxic chemicals that can burn and eat away at delicate vein tissue. With frequent injecting, vein tissue becomes inflamed and breaks down. This can cause scarring, abscesses and collapsed veins.

Some chemicals can also make abscesses worse if you skin pop or miss.

Tips for healthier veins
Give your veins extended breaks from toxic chemicals and frequent puncture damage. Your veins will be sure to last longer that way.

The best way to protect your veins is to

• stop injecting drugs - particularly crystal, or
• if that's not a real option then try cutting back on injecting, or
• use in different ways.

Water is your best friend when it comes to veins! Drink at least 8 glasses a day. Fruit juice (100% juice, not juice "drinks") and sports drinks like PowerAde or Gatorade are also good choices.

Drink less coffee, caffeinated soda and alcohol - these make your body lose more fluid than it takes in. Cut down on cigarettes, especially 1-2 hours before having a shot. Nicotine also shrinks veins.

Before you inject
Try to make your veins expand as much as possible. When veins expand, or dilate, they are more visible. Veins you can see are easier and safer to hit. Dilated veins also allow more blood to flow.

If you're already speeding, your veins will be smaller than when you first shot up. So getting a good vein is going to be more difficult than when you had your first shot. Take a hot shower. Or place a hot, wet washcloth on the injection area for 5-10 minutes. The temperature increase will help your veins expand and rise to the surface.

Rotate your injection sites
Each time you shoot up, move at least one inch from your previous hit. Better still - move to a different site altogether. Sticking to your favourite spot is a sure way to cause that vein to scar or collapse.

If possible, clean your injection area thoroughly with hot water and soap. Then wipe the site with a fresh alcohol swab. A good wash with soap followed by an alcohol swab will cut down on bacteria that can lead to abscesses, endocarditis and other infections.

Important:

• Never inject below your waist.
• Avoid injecting into veins in your hands or feet.
• Never inject deeper than 5mm or you may hit an artery or a nerve. Arteries are deeper and harder to pierce than veins, the blood is brighter and it will spurt rather than ooze.
• Never inject into a site that is sore, swollen or tender.
• Don't inject into the same spot 2 times in a row. Vary your injecting sites to give the vein a break and a chance to recover.
• Don't bend your elbow to stop the bleeding - apply pressure and hold the bleeding site.