Slamming refers to injecting a substance directly into your veins with a syringe. For this purpose, they are dissolved in water beforehand. The substances contained in the substance enter the bloodstream directly when injected.
Slamming is the riskiest way to consume substances. If you choose to consume intravenously or intramuscular, it is especially important that you be aware of safer use methods to keep serious health risks lower.
- When slamming, the effect is immediate and experienced as a very intense rush. As a result, there is a high risk of developing a dependency, which can lead to serious psychological problems.
- Side effects and after-effects of substances can be more severe in slamming than in other forms of use.
- Overdoses occur more quickly with slamming/injecting than with other types of use. Therefore, make sure that you do not consume alone and that someone is with you who can provide or get help in an emergency.
- Usually, neither the concentration nor the quality of substances is known, the probability of emergencies is particularly high when injecting. Adulterated or contaminated substances (e.g. with anesthetics) can be life-threatening!
Preparation
- Use your own utensils (including new needles and syringes, sterile water, new swabs, a clean spoon, vein tourniquet and filter)! Sharing injecting equipment transmits infections (e.g., HIV, hepatitis C) very quickly.
- It is important to pay attention to hygiene to avoid infections in the puncture site. You can do this by finding a space that is as clean as possible, washing your hands, and disinfecting the storage areas and injection site. Make sure your utensils are sterile. Use only packaged utensils.
- Water can also contain germs and transmit infections. It is therefore best to use sterile water to dissolve your substances (pharmacy). Alternatively, you can use still mineral water or boiled tap water. To kill germs, bacteria and other pathogens, the water must boil for at least three minutes.
- Make sure that all components of the drug are well dissolved. Injecting solid, not fully dissolved, particles will damage veins and can cause serious problems. Draw the solution into the syringe through a “techno filter” to avoid injecting solid particles into your veins. Cigarette filters are not ideal because they release fine hairs, which can lead to pulmonary embolisms or heart infections.
During Slamming
- Inject only into the veins, not into the arteries! To check this, pull the plunger back a little after injecting: If the blood is dark, you are right. If the drawn blood is bright and foamy and pushes into or past the syringe, you have hit an artery. Do not pull the trigger! This hit woudln’t provide relief, but only cause overwhelming pain and swelling of the limbs, often for several hours.
- Go easy on your veins: Generally, long needles are easier on your veins. Inject toward the heart to help the vein heal better. Always use a new needle, otherwise they can bend and rupture your veins.
- Ideally, inject into veins on the upper/forearm and back of the hand. Veins in the neck, chest, armpits and below the waist are close to the arteries, which is why the health risks are much higher in these places. Veins on fingers and feet are also rather unsuitable because they tear more quickly.
- Switching injection sites is important because it allows the previously used injection sites and veins to heal, preventing infections and abscesses.
After slamming
- Press down on the injection site with a tissue or swab to help it close. Refrain from using alcohol swabs, as this slows healing. Refrain from using alcohol swabs, as this slows healing.
- Dispose of needles directly (e.g. in containers or plastic bottles) so no one gets hurt. Avoid attempting to re-cap (putting the protective cap back on the needle), because that often causes injuries.
- Also pay attention to hygiene afterwards (wash your hands).
In case of emergency
Call the emergency number 112 free of charge, even from your mobile phone.
Whether or not drug use was the cause of an emergency is irrelevant for first responders: First aid is always admitted according to symptoms!
On the phone, stick to describing the symptoms and avoid mentioning drugs. If you speak of drug use, the is a chance that the police may also arrive. However, this is handled differently in different cities. When they arrive, tell first responders and emergency doctors which substances are involved (if known). They are legally bound to confidentiality!
Slam Packs
Slam packs containing a syringe, cannula, filter, sterile water, swab and container for drawing up and brief advice are available on site from the sidekicks.berlin teams.
Counseling
Fixpunkt Berlin offers services for people who inject drugs, such as counseling on safer slamming, advice on veins, anonymous and free treatment of wounds and abscesses, etc.
Consulting services
Counselling on drugs & substance use
