3 ms·

It's not that hard to function if you have legal access. Opiates are stupidly cheap. With clean equipment, no illegality, no difficulty buying -- it simply woul

It's not that hard to function if you have legal access. Opiates are stupidly cheap. With clean equipment, no illegality, no difficulty buying -- it simply would not be that big of an issue for many people. Remember that many (millions) of people are on opiate therapy and manage to function. The heroin junky stereotype is usually for people prevented from obtaining medicine via legal channels. Indeed, even the hygiene part could use some open innovation. Right now IV users mostly have to repurpose insulin needles (interchangeable thin needles (like 30G)) are rare. Long-term IV use is geared towards hospital use. Removing the medical industry gatekeeping of who gets to use opiates would blow open the marketplace.

brokenmachine 10y ago
Indeed, even the hygiene part could use some open innovation. Right now IV users mostly have to repurpose insulin needles (interchangeable thin needles (like 30G)) are rare. Long-term IV use is geared towards hospital use. Needles aren't illegal, are they? Can't people just buy them?
- MichaelGG 10y ago
  They are hard to obtain in many places. Plus "no one" does IV-direct-to-vein-injections on a regular basis. It's either IM (so larger needles), subcutaneous (like insulin), or IV catheter (larger needles, expected to stay in a day or longer). So even in places that do carry needles, it's unlikely you'll find e.g. Luer-Lock 30G. In some places it's illegal, as it's "drug paraphernalia". In the UK there was even a story about a kid being denied buying teaspoons since he was underage (patients often cook drugs in a spoon before injecting). So IV patients right now have a very hard time. If they are lucky, they can convince a pharmacy they are diabetic and need insulin needles, in some cases. Legalizing would mean stores can sell and make money, and would start to reduce the stigma.
  - brokenmachine 10y ago
    Wow. If there's any better evidence that the drug wars have nothing to do with public health or safety, I haven't heard it. That's bananas.

brokenmachine 10y ago

Indeed, even the hygiene part could use some open innovation. Right now IV users mostly have to repurpose insulin needles (interchangeable thin needles (like 30G)) are rare. Long-term IV use is geared towards hospital use. Needles aren't illegal, are they? Can't people just buy them?

MichaelGG 10y ago
They are hard to obtain in many places. Plus "no one" does IV-direct-to-vein-injections on a regular basis. It's either IM (so larger needles), subcutaneous (like insulin), or IV catheter (larger needles, expected to stay in a day or longer). So even in places that do carry needles, it's unlikely you'll find e.g. Luer-Lock 30G. In some places it's illegal, as it's "drug paraphernalia". In the UK there was even a story about a kid being denied buying teaspoons since he was underage (patients often cook drugs in a spoon before injecting). So IV patients right now have a very hard time. If they are lucky, they can convince a pharmacy they are diabetic and need insulin needles, in some cases. Legalizing would mean stores can sell and make money, and would start to reduce the stigma.
- brokenmachine 10y ago
  Wow. If there's any better evidence that the drug wars have nothing to do with public health or safety, I haven't heard it. That's bananas.