I'm sure lots of peeps here are pros and have been playing in this realm for years, but ever once in a while when I get a chance to slam with friends, I usually notice something weird they are doing.. so thought it could help to post some tips. Not sure if this is allowed here, apologies to mods if not, please delete. I feel it's related to the markets since many people I.V. the products they purchase..
I was fortunate in my younger years to have been trained by a naughty (hot) R.N., and also had a period of playing with a junkie anesthesiologist too.. Super lucky or totally cursed, however you want to look at it.. ;-)
To be as pithy as possible [edit: didn't work out, sorry]:
1) Always mix thoroughly COLD, don't drop in powder/rocks and then instantly add heat: Heating brings out the CUT, and when you don't cold mix first, you can end up cooking some of the cut up that otherwise would be seen. Experimenting with (really high quality) BTH can make this very obvious. A light heat causes solution to separate, become clear, and you'll see a little ring or clump of dark black. This is the CUT and will generally stick to your mixing device and can be scooped out before you even filter. Contrary to popular belief, some ECP also has cut that can be exposed in the same manner as a BTH cook.
2) For God's sake WHEEL FILTER!: You are already dropping a ton of money on typically over-priced DM gear, go the extra inch and invest in wheel filters. They can grab nearly all particulate matter, and even virus and bacteria! Google will teach you how and the best filter types are PES and PVDF, both of which are easy to find on eee-bay and ama-zonn. Whatman is the best., 0.2 microns is the size for most substances. There is a larger size and smaller size Whatman. Larger is good to make soutions and vial up (with bacertiostatic water) and smaller is good for 1-5ish shots imho. Push through some sterile water when done, then a few tubes of air, and you can use again at least a few times over a couple days. Whatman catalog # 6900-2502 is PVDF sterile 25mm 0.2 filter. Whatman catalog # 6780-1302 is PES sterile 13mm 0.2 filter. Stock up on both and learn how to use them!
3) When done shooting, IMMEDIATELY push on area of arm with 4-folded piece of TP or medical gauze. DO NOT USE ALCOHOL WIPE OR ALCOHOL ANYTHING! This is someting that can contribute to a track mark, scar.
4) Do not start pushing until tourniquet device is complete removed and there is ZERO pressure on arm/veins. Not doing so also contributes to tracks/scars.
5) A GREAT alternative to typical tourniquet is the cuff attachment to a inexpensive battery-powered blood pressure monitor. You can put air connector part in your mouth and use your lungs/breath to squeeze and then release. When totally released, there should be no pressure on arm/veins at all. This technique allows the arm to not jerk around/ move at all (unlike tourniquets) which is yet another cause of scars.
6) Medical supply stores online will supply everything you need, including sterile vials of regular sterile water and bacteriostatic. You can also get 3ML leur-lock syringes with removable needles for use when wheel filtering. one such site is called eastcoastmedica_.com..... you can guess the rest..
7) When heating, be gentle, no need to boil, just the appearance of tiny bubbles on bottom of spoon for a sec. This should reveal any cut that may be there. People like to say to never heat ECP but it really depends on the gear. Sometimes heating will bring out some cut that can then get filtered out into the cotton, other times it won't. Learn your gear and decide accordingly.
8) Alternate arms, veins. Keep track of what you hit last and give it time to heal. Learn your veins! Research the same stuff phlemotomy students do. Close your eyes and feel around on your arms. There are TONS of veins, not just the main lines at your elbow. Be careful around the hands and wrists as there are a lot of nerves there.
9) I generally don't recommend people I.V. I regret ever trying to be honest. It's a completey new world and is such an intense instant rush dopamine lock that it's hard to evet go back to other ROA's..
But if you are going to, practice harm reduction like always doing a test shot when getting new gear. And you can easily NEVER had a track mark or scar if you follow my simple advice above. I haven't had a scar in like 10 years and I fix 2-3 times per day when I'm on/chipping..
That's about all I got / notice when with friends. If anyone else wants to add to this, go for it. And if you are a first timer, google google google and BEST TO HAVE A FRIEND WITH YOU and perhaps a narcon shot if it's H. Chewing up a naltrexone tab or even a sub can also bring you back tho it takes much longer.
Happy Shooting!!
/r/drugs Might appreciate this as well.