Injecting to Smoking/Freebasing Transition

(For Heroin/Fentanyl)

Thinking about transitioning from injecting to smoking?

Why?

There are lots of reasons why someone might want to transition away from injecting and to another route of consumption, like smoking. Some of these might include:

• Having trouble finding veins,

• A desire to reduce risk of bacterial and viral infections,

• Desire to reduce risk of overdose, and

• Preferring smoking to injection but not having had access to safer smoking supplies before recently

What’s the difference?

• Smoking may not give you as intense a rush as injection does,

• You should feel the affects of smoking in about the same amount of time as injecting

• While there is still risk of blood-to-blood transmission if you share smoking supplies -especially if you burn your lips -- it’s carries less risk of bacterial infection, because you are not puncturing your skin/vein

So, what supplies do I need for safer fentanyl/heroin smoking?

• Aluminum foil cut into a small rectangle

• A straw: either glass or rolled-up foil

• A lighter

• Optional: brillo to catch the residue

• Optional: A spark plug cover to use as a mouthpiece if you’re sharing your straw

Okay, but how does it work?

• Take your rectangle of aluminum foil and smooth it out as much as possible with your lighter

• Use the duller side of the foil -- some brands of

foil have a plastic coating on the shinier side, plus it’s more reflective and may heat too quickly, burning away some of your drugs. You can also pre-burn your foil a little bit to reduce fumes.

• Place your drug on the foil and heat beneath it, keeping the lighter a few inches below the foil. Heat until you see some vapor rising from the foil.

• Once the substance has liquified, keep it moving by tilting your foil.

• If you’re using a glass pipe, you can take a small piece of rolled up brillo pad or chore boy to catch the residue in your pipe and smoke later (sort of like a cotton shot).

• Pick up your straw or roll of foil and follow or “chase” the smoke, inhaling as you do.

• Take it slow, especially if it’s your first time smoking or you haven’t smoked in a while. Remember that it’s still possible to overdose when smoking, so give yourself a few minutes to see how you feel after that first inhale.

What if I don’t like smoking, but also want a break from injecting? What are some other options?

• Rectal insertion [insert link to plugging resource] (plugging or ‘booty bumping’) is a great option, especially if you’re worried about losing some of your drug. Some people even recommend it as a good intermediary step between injecting and smoking.

• You can try snorting, too, but it may take longer to feel the effects.

Resources :

• San Francisco AIDS Foundation “Smoking Fentanyl” brochure

• H is for Heroin

• Drug Forums Heroin forum

• Interview with Jessie from MAP

• Youth AOD Toolbox, “ Alternatives to Injecting”

• Fentanyl Use and OD Prevention tips, National Harm Reduction Coalition