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Injecting safely

You should always use new, sterile equipment. Re-using equipment increases the risk of contamination and bacterial infection.

You can get sterile injecting equipment for injecting PIEDs at any primary needle and syringe outlet (NSP).

It is very important that you never share any equipment. Sharing any equipment can lead to the transmission of blood borne viruses (BBVs), such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.

It is safest to only inject yourself. If you are unable to, the person injecting should ensure they wear gloves and never recap the needle - place it straight in the sharps bin. Be aware of your personal space to ensure there are no risks to others around you.

Reusing equipment increases increases the risks of contamination, bacterial infections, and injection site damage.

You will also need access to a sharps disposal container to safely dispose of your equipment, which you can get from an NSP. Some gyms may also have sharps containers. Everything you use for the injection should go in a Hard plastic container. This must be disposed of in a community sharps bin. 

It is safe to use any hard plastic as a sharps container as long as it is correctly disposed of in a big community sharps bin when it is full. Again, it does not matter what kind of container the sharps are in. Everything is incinerated once it's picked up from the community sharps bins.

Examples of alternative sharps bins are:

  • Protein powder containers
  • Ice cream containers
  • Laundry detergent containers
  • Any other hard plastic.

You will need a needle that is long enough to reach your muscle and thick enough for the drug to pass through. You should use a large needle (e.g. 19G or 21G or 23G) to draw up the drug and a new 23G needle to inject the drug. Make sure the needle length is 1-1.5 inches (2.5 – 4cm).

NSP workers are able to provide advice on injecting equipment if you would like to discuss it further.

1. Top outer quadrant of glute muscle. 

2. Outside quad muscle. 

3. Deltoid muscle of arm.  

 

 

Creating a clean environment

Bacteria and viruses are microscopic, so cannot be seen with the naked eye.
If possible, it is best to inject in a private space by yourself to reduce the risk of blood contamination. You should choose a hard surface (bench or table) that is free of clutter and can easily be wiped down. You can use soapy water or alcohol swabs to wipe it down.

If you are unable to inject in a private space (for example you need to inject at the gym), you have to be even more blood aware. Do not inject other people or have them inject you and do not share any equipment. Make sure you carefully wipe down all surfaces before and after injecting.

Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before setting up.

If you can, wash the injection site on your body with soap and water as well. This is better than using an alcohol swab, though you should use a swab if you cannot wash the site immediately before injecting it. Use one swab in one direction only so you are not wiping dirt or bacteria around and allow it to dry before injecting.

You will need a sharps disposal container on hand to dispose of all equipment before you start injecting.

 

Damage at injecting site

Steroid injections are generally injected intramuscularly (into the muscles). With intramuscular injections, there is a risk that you could hit a nerve if you inject in the wrong place. This can produce more blood than usual, and may also cause lasting damage and paralysis in extreme cases. Injecting steroids into veins carries serious health risks and can result in death.

Make sure you understand where it is safe to inject and use a new needle that is large enough to reach the muscle. If the needle is too short, it can damage the fatty tissue. Needles that have been used previously become blunt and can also carry bacteria or viruses. You can ask for more information at a primary Needle and Syringe Program (NSP).

 

Blood management

Because you need big needles to inject steroids, there is often a bit of bleeding when you remove the needle. While there is no harm in touching your own blood, it is important to clean up your blood and ensure no one else comes in contact with it. Even microscopic (invisible) amounts of blood can carry blood borne viruses (BBVs), which damage your body over many years. Injecting other people is also dangerous for this reason. 

If there is blood visible after injecting, apply pressure with a clean tissue or cotton wool for a few minutes. Any swelling, redness or itching should quickly subside. If it doesn’t, seek medical help.  Avoid putting an alcohol swab on it.

Everything you have used in the injection – needles, syringes, swabs and empty ampoules or vials should be placed in the sharps disposal container and returned to a needle and syringe program for safe disposal.  

Wash your hands and the injection area on your body with soap and water. 

You also need to clean down the space around you. Use soap and water or alcohol swabs to wipe down any surfaces where you have had equipment or where your blood may have touched.  

If you think you could have come into contact with someone else’s blood in the past, you should ask a doctor to test for BBVs. Even if you know the person well and they are healthy, they could still have a BBV. Many of the symptoms of BBVs do not show up for many years, by which time they can already cause significant damage to your body. 

 

Blood tests

 

References

Updated 1 May 2025