People use substances in a variety of different ways. One of these ways is through smoking. While smoking substances can be safer than other methods of use, such as injection, it’s not without its own risks.
Smoking substances can result in open sores, burns, or cuts on the lips and in the mouth. This can result in blood being present on the pipe you are using. If the pipe is shared, even a small speck of blood carrying a virus like HIV or hepatitis C can be enough to transmit the virus.
While smoking generally carries a lower risk of overdose than injection substance use, people can still experience an overdose from smoking substances. You can reduce your chances of experiencing an overdose in a variety of ways.
Make sure your drugs are safe. If possible, only use drugs you received from a trusted source. While not 100% accurate, drug checking can help you identify unknown or dangerous ingredients in your drugs. Drug testing kits and strips can be found at dancesafe.org.
Start with a small amount first. If it’s safe, you can always put more in your body. But once it’s in there, it’s hard (and sometimes impossible) to get it out.
Don’t use alone. If possible, always use with someone you trust. You can look out for one another.
Take care of yourself. Do what you can to get enough rest, keep hydrated, and stay nourished.
Make sure a Naloxone kit is available. Even if you’re not planning to use opioids, there is a chance your drugs might have come into contact with them. For example, your drugs might have been cut with Fentanyl without your knowledge. The risk of overdose from Fentanyl is substantial.
Know the signs of an overdose. For crack and crystal meth, these might include:
Feels like:
heart is pumping fast
short of breath
hot, sweaty and shaky
chest pain
nausea
faintness
Looks like:
fast or no pulse
fast or no breathing
hot and sweaty skin
confusion, anxiety
unconscious
vomiting
seizures
If you think you or someone you know are having an overdose, seek immediate medical attention.
Below, we’ve included some additional tips of safer substance smoking (particularly crack and crystal meth) to keep you and those you use with healthier.
Tips for Both
To avoid spreading infection, use your own mouthpiece or pipe.
Use a shatterproof Pyrex pipe. Other materials can break, leaving you at risk for cuts, or can get too hot or give off toxic fumes. Never use a broken or cracked pipe.
Clean your hands, mouthpiece, and pipe with alcohol swabs or soap and water.
Keep your lips and mouth moist to reduce cracks or blisters. Consider drinking water and using lip balm. This will reduce chance of infection.
When smoking, inhale slowly (to prevent burning your lungs), exhale immediately, and handle the pipe with care as it will be hot after use.
Tips for Crack
Use brass screens instead of brillo (steel wool). Brillo (steel wool) can break down when heated and loose pieces can end up on your lips or in your throat and lungs when vapours are inhaled.
Use a wooden push stick instead of a metal one, as it’s less likely to damage the pipe.
Tips for Crystal
Ensure the drug is in the right part of the pipe bowl. Gently tap your pipe to move the drugs if necessary.
Hold the pipe halfway down the stem to prevent burns.
Apply the heat to the bowl, keeping the heat source moving so that the pipe doesn’t crack.
Access Support
Need access to safer smoking supplies? The Peer N Peer program may be able to provide some for you, free-of-charge. Contact us at connect@peernpeer.ca or 587-599-7290. We also provide other supports such as one-on-one counselling, support, and education, as well as screening and referral services. Whether you’re looking to stop using drugs, use drugs more safely, or change how your drug use impacts your sex life, we’re here for you.
References
“Safer Crack Smoking.” CATIE, 2011, www.catie.ca/en/practical-guides/hepc-in-depth/prevention-harm-reduction/safer-crack-smoking.
“Safer Smoking: Crack and Crystal Meth.” Safer Smoking: Crack and Crystal Meth | Here to Help, 2012, www.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/safer-smoking-crack-and-crystal-meth#reduce.
“Safer Smoking,” Vancouver Coastal Health, 2014, www.vch.eduhealth.ca/PDFs/DB/DB.500.S341.pdf.