e-prevention and risk reduction in festive environments. Know more, risk less

Consumption and advice

How well informed are you about drugs?

Avoid mixing, know when to stop, be aware of your limits, measure the risk… Tips for a wise consumption.

BEFORE
  • If you chose to do drugs, avoid being alone.
  • Surround yourself with friends (not necessarily on drugs too) who are able to assist you, give you advice on the use, the products and the risks.
  • Try to understand what you are doing, ask questions, talk to people close to you.
  • Be careful about what you buy.
  • Have a talk with trusted people who have already experienced substances/drugs, especially in the case of a product you don’t know, and use it in a safe environment.
  • Before going out, have a balanced meal.
DURING

Frequent drug intake during the same party increases the risk of overdose !

  • Have breaks, vary environments, get some fresh air regularly (beware of the cold).
  • Avoid mixing different substances, it increases the risks dramatically and most often cancels the desired effects.
  • Most products are cut with unknown substances.
  • Subdivide your doses, space out your intakes, especially the first times, it can reduce the harm in case of a bad surprise.
  • Drink water regularly, but small amounts at a time.
  • Do not drive, remember your state of consciousness is altered.
  • If you don’t feel well, quickly ask for help.
  • Be careful, some products are anesthetic and prevent you from feeling instant pain.
AFTER
  • Eat fruits and drink vitamin-rich fruit juices to compensate for the energy you just lost.
  • Find a ventilated, comforting and cosy place, with a relaxing atmosphere.
  • Anticipate consistent time-off afterwards.
  • It is recommended to squeeze in several weeks between drug intakes.
  • Avoid doing drugs every weekend, you might get dissatisfied with the effects and be tempted to increase doses.
  • Health, depression and addiction hazards will keep on intensifying.
  • Be very careful about solitude and withdrawal.
  • Never drive under the influence of a substance.
  • Make sure you are accompanied back home by someone who didn’t do drugs.

Method of administration and risks

Smoke

Beware of lip wounds before “passing around.” There is a risk of viral contamination by blood (especially HCV). Inhaling smoke obtained from combustion is a risk factor for many cancers, cardiovascular and respiratory tract diseases.

Snort

Repeated use of products like cocaine are very irritating to the nasal mucosa, causing hidden lesions (micro bleeding) which can spread hepatitis viruses (VHC especially). With direct blood contact, the hepatitis C virus spreads way easier than AIDS. What’s more, it can survive in the air for a long time. Do not share or trade your straw or any gear with anyone. Make sure the objects you are using as straws are clean. Also make sure that the support of your lines is clean: avoid banknotes, found or dirty papers, toilet rims… If you have a straw dedicated to snorting, make sure you clean it every time.
Crush your product in the finest powder you can obtain. Wash your nose with water before and after snorting. Regularly switch nostrils. Over time, snorting can lead to perforation of the nasal septum. Pain while snorting is a warning sign that you must not neglect.
Finally, remember that snorting does not prevent overdose or intoxication.

Shooting

If you inject products, do not share any injection gear (needle, cotton wool, water and spoon) because of the risk of spreading diseases including AIDS or hepatitis viruses… Always use new and sterilised gear for each injection. Disinfect the spoon and wash your hands with soap before handling sterilised gear. Use sterilised or mineral water, never use toilet water. Disinfection of the injection site with alcohol swab assures you with maximal protection from infection risks.
After the injection, keep a clean and dry cotton at the injection point for at least 30 seconds. In the absence of a needle collector nearby, neutralize your used gear and throw it all (needle, bag, cotton wool and water) in a can that you will crush and throw in the trash. In France, needle selling is legal in pharmacies.
Furthermore, prevention kits (Stéribox 2®, Kit+®) and Stérifilts® (filters that replace cotton wool filtering 90% of the impurities) are sold in pharmacies or freely distributed by risk reduction associations. The kits in a sterile bag include two insulin syringes, two alcohol swabs, two heating and dilution containers, two dry swabs, two sterile water vials for injection and one condom.

The comedown

It can be difficult: depression, dread, paranoia, faintness. The best way to avoid those feelings is, of course, not to do drugs.
However, if you do anyway, you should take the following precautions: plan time off before resuming any activity. Remember to anticipate it before the party; surround yourself with trusted people; eat and drink water.
Warning: during the comedown, taking a product to “go back up” (alcohol, ecstasy, methamphetamine…) dramatically increases the exhaustion of the body, the risk of overdose or “bad trip” and worsens the inconvenience of the final comedown.
Furthermore, taking a relaxing product (opium, heroin, methadone, Subutex® or Skénan®) to weaken the inconvenience of the comedown exposes to the same risks. Not to mention the fact that those products carry high addiction and respiratory depression risks.

Mixes

Just like alcoholic drinks, drug “cocktails” are more dangerous than single drugs. The risks of some mixes are still poorly known. Generally speaking, drinking and using drugs is a dangerous association. Alcohol potentiates the effects of drugs, it acts as a magnifier.

In partnership with
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
• In any case call or have somebody call 112 or 15 (in France)
• if the person is conscious :
- keep him/her awake by talking to her.
• if the person is uncounscious : undo his/her tight clothes, check if he/she’s breathing and put him/her in recovery position
• stay with him/her until emergency services arrive and inquire about the location of a defibrillator