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) |