IV Drug Use Program
Have You Ever...
- Injected Drugs?
Unless You Inject Alone With Clean Supplies Every Time You Inject, You Are Putting Yourself At Risk.
- Shared Needles?
Sharing Needles Puts You At Risk For Infections Like HIV and HEPATITIS C. Infections In The Blood Can Survive For A Long Time Inside A Needle Or Syringe And Be Passed To The Next Person To Inject.
- Used Dirty Works?
Sharing Your Works Or Rigs Also Puts You At Risk. Infected Blood Can Be Present In Shared Cookers and Used Cottons.
- Had Sex With Injection Drug Users?
Even If You Do Not Inject Drugs, If You Have Sex With Someone Who Injects, You Could Be Exposing Yourself To Possible Infections.
- What Do I Know About HIV Infections?
HIV Is Passed From One Person To Another By One Of Four Bodily Fluids . . . Blood, Semen, Vaginal Fluid and Breast Milk. If You Share Needles Or Rigs, You Are Also Sharing Blood. If You Have Sex With Someone Who Injects, You Are Exposing Yourself To Sexual Fluids. HIV Breaks Down The Body's Ability To Fight Off Other Infections Like The Flu Or Even The Common Cold. HIV Leads To AIDS Which Is Eventually Fatal.
- What Do I Know About HEPATITIS C Infections?
HEPATITIS C Is Passed From One Person To Another By Blood And Only Blood. Shared Needles And Rigs Are The Number One Cause Of HEPATITIS C Infection Because Blood Is Also Being Shared. HEPATITIS C Treats Your Liver Like Alcoholism Would, Slowly Destroying It Over a Period Of Several Years. Left Untreated, HEPATITIS C Can Be Fatal.
- When Should I Get Tested?
If You Think You Have Been Exposed To HIV, You Should Get Tested. HIV Can Take Up To 3 Months To Show Up On A Test. If You Shoot Up With A Shared Needle Two Weeks Before You Get Tested, You Won't Be Getting An Accurate Result. Stop All Sharing And Risky Sex For 3 Months Before You Get Tested.
HEPATITIS C Can Take Up TO 6 Months To Show Up On A Test. Stop All Sharing and Risky Sex for 6 Months Before You Get Tested.
Already Having One Virus In Your Body Makes It Easy For Other Viruses To Infect You.
- Where Can I Get Tested And Get Clean Supplies?
The Northern Colorado AIDS Project (NCAP) Offers Free HIV And HEPATITIS C Testing. Your Information Is Confidential With Us. We Want To Give You NoN~Judgmental Help. We Also Carry Free, Clean Supplies So That Every Time You Inject, You Can Do It Safely.
Northern Colorado AIDS Project
400 Remington, Suite 100
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970)484-4469
(800)464-4611
- What Is An Individual Intervention?
Individual Interventions Are One On One Discussions Between You And One Of Our Staff. The Session Is Completely Voluntary. The Purpose Of The Session Is To Talk About Risks and Behaviors, And Hopefully Help You Walk Away With Tools To Understand Risks And Decide If You Want To Change Certain Behaviors. Interventions Are Not Therapy Sessions. Your Point Of View Is Respected And You Are Not Told What You Should and Should Not Do.
- What Is Peer Outreach?
Peer Outreach Is A Program Designed To Benefit Other Injection Drug Users In Our Community Who, For Various Reasons, Are Difficult For Us To Reach. Anyone Who Comes To Our Office For A Test May Volunteer In Our Peer Outreach Program. Activities Include Telling Other Users About NCAP'S Testing Services And Handing Out Information And Clean Supplies.
- How Can I Help Others?
You Can Help Yourself And Others By Coming In To Get Tested And Take Home Clean Supplies, By Participating In An Individual Intervention, And By Volunteering In Our Peer Outreach Program.
Helpful Links For More Information...
- www.thebody.com
Your Complete HIV Resource - www.harmredux.org
Resource For Drop In Centers, Safe Use And Supply Exchange - www.hepc-connection.org
HEP C Education, Support And Prevention - www.cdphe.co.us
Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment - www.cdc.gov
Centers For Disease Control And Prevention - www.montanameth.org
A Prevention Program Out Of Montana Dealing Primarily With The Effects Of Meth On Teens
