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Table 2 Distribution of usual injection preparation and practices: PWID London 2017–2019

From: Injecting-related health harms and overuse of acidifiers among people who inject heroin and crack cocaine in London: a mixed-methods study

Injecting preparation, patterns and health outcomes

N = 455

 

n (%)

Main acid used to dissolve drugs for injecting in the last 12 months

n = 284

 Citric acid

237 (83.5)

 Vitamin C

27 (9.5)

 Lemon juice

4 (1.4)

 Kettle descaler

1 (0.4)

 No acid

15 (5.2)

Typical (usual) quantity of citric acid or vitamin C used to prepare a £10 bag of heroin

n = 418

 More than a sachet

5 (1.2)

 A whole sachet

122 (29.2)

 ¾ of a sachet

23 (5.5)

 ½ a sachet

136 (32.5)

 ¼ of a sachet

41 (9.8)

 A pinch

91 (21.8)

Body site injected over lifetime

 Hands

333 (73.2)

 Arms

439 (96.5)

 Neck

169 (37.1)

 Groin

189 (41.5)

 Legs

275 (60.4)

 Feet

251 (55.2)

 Other

63 (13.9)

Frequency of injecting in a typical week

 Once a week

57 (12.5)

 2–4 times a week

50 (11.0)

 4–6 times a week

31 (6.8)

 Once a day

44 (9.7)

 2–3 times a day

164 (36.0)

 4 or more times a day

109 (24.0)

Number of times usually insert the needle before successful vein injection

 Once (I always get it the first time)

202 (44.4)

 Twice

82 (18.0)

 3–4 times

58 (12.8)

 4 or more times

108 (23.7)

 I do not inject into a vein

5 (1.1)

SSTI history and hospitalisation

 No

159 (35.0)

 Yes, but not hospitalised

159 (35.0)

 Yes, and hospitalised

137 (30.0)

Ever diagnosed with DVT

N = 455

 No

350 (76.9)

 Yes

105 (23.1)

Ever diagnosed with blood poisoning

 No

372 (81.8)

 Yes

83 (18.2)

Ever diagnosed with endocarditis

 No

433 (95.2)

 Yes

22 (4.8)

Current albumin-creatinine ratio (past 12 months)

N = 316

 Normal

254 (80.4)

 Abnormal/high abnormal

62 (19.6)