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Neck injecting: a new phenomenon?
David Robertson, Specialist Nurse in Substance Misuse, NHS Islington, London
Abstract
Neck injecting is a high risk practice which has
historically taken place within specific sub populations and as an
intermittent alternative when other veins aren't accessible. It's not
a common choice and for many injectors it represents one site too far
and the point at which they predict they will know it's time to stop
injecting. It's not a new site, but with an increasing prevalence of
injecting, services seeing younger and younger injectors and a shift
in demographics are we seeing or due to see an increase in neck injecting?
This presentation provides a brief overview of neck injecting, who
does it, why and how and looks at a case study of a small cohort of
Eastern European injectors.
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Biography
I have worked with injecting drug users for the last fifteen
years, in needle exchange and recently in community prescribing services.
I was a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Harm Reduction for eight years,
and I've also been a Pharmacy Needle Exchange Co-ordinator and the
Chair of the Pan London Needle Exchange Forum. I currently work for
NHS Islington as a Specialist Nurse in Substance Misuse and as a Nurse
Independent Prescriber. I have a particular clinical interest in
complex injecting practices and non-dependent injectors
I also deliver bespoke and in-house training to drug services and
provide consultancy nationally.
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