Can I become infected with HIV if I inject drugs and share the needles with someone else, without sterilising them?
There is a possibility of becoming infected with HIV if you share injecting equipment with someone who has the virus. If HIV infected blood remains within the bore (inside) of the needle or in the syringe and someone else then injects themselves with it, that blood can be flushed into the bloodstream. Sharing needles, syringes, spoons, filters and water, can pass on the virus. Disinfecting equipment between uses can reduce the chance of transmission, but doesn’t eliminate it.
There is a possibility of becoming infected with HIV if you share injecting equipment with someone who has the virus. If HIV infected blood remains within the bore (inside) of the needle or in the syringe and someone else then uses it to inject themselves, that blood can be flushed into the bloodstream. Sharing needles, syringes, spoons, filters or water can pass on the virus. Disinfecting equipment between uses can reduce the likelihood of transmission, but does not eliminate it. More information can be found in our Injecting drugs, drug users and HIV page.
There is a possibility of becoming infected with HIV if you share injecting equipment with someone who has the virus. If HIV infected blood remains within the bore (inside) of the needle or in the syringe and someone else then injects themselves with it, that blood can be flushed into the bloodstream. Sharing needles, syringes, spoons, filters and water, can pass on the virus. Disinfecting equipment between uses can reduce the chance of transmission, but doesn’t eliminate it. More information can be found on our HIV and drug use page.
There is a possibility of becoming infected with HIV if you share injecting equipment with someone who has the virus. If HIV infected blood remains within the bore (inside) of the needle or in the syringe and someone else then uses it to inject themselves, that blood can be flushed into the bloodstream. Sharing needles, syringes, spoons, filters or water can pass on the virus. Disinfecting equipment between uses can reduce the likelihood of transmission, but does not eliminate it.
