Needle and syringe programmes in the UK are distributing, on average, around 1 needle and syringe per injector per day. With an average injecting frequency of around 3 injections per day this means that many syringes are reused.

When interviewed, most injectors say they have reused injecting equipment in the past, and many have shared. Although they say they have cleaned the injecting equipment before reuse, the methods employed are often far from ideal.

This leaflet gives graphically clear advice to users on how to clean injecting equipment. As a supporting measure, we strongly advise services to set up practical exercises to enable people to practice the skill under supervision in order to ensure they understand the instructions, and are aware of the consequences of mistakes.

The bleach debate
The advice about the relative importance of using bleach, and on how long it should be in contact with the syringe is stressed less in our leaflet than in many other, similar resources.

This is because the work of Professor Robert Heimer in the US and Eastern Europe has shown that:

A) the rinsing action of cold water dramatically reduces the amount of HIV in a syringe. It is effective rinsing action that makes the most difference; AND

B) the more complicated advice is, and the more requirements are given to people before their efforts are considered 'adequate', the less likely they are to follow the instructions.

To watch the video we made as part of the Harm Reduction Works Campaign which describes the science that gives us the confidence to recommend this technique, see our youtube video 'does cleaning syringes work'.

To see our video (part of a Harm Reduction Works DVD) on how to clean a syringe, click on this link to the film 'cleaning works!'