Abscesses are something most of us have encountered before and they can be excruciatingly painful for injecting drug users

ABSCESSES & INJECTING

Abscesses are something most of us have encountered before and they can be excruciatingly painful. Sympathetic medical care can be hard to come by for many of us, and so some people resort to treating themselves. This can lead to some serious complications as the toxicity of an abscess can vary considerably. Here are a few things to remember when it comes to getting to grips with an abscess.

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If you’ve been doing speed or ice (amphetamine or methamphetamine) for a while you might notice your mouth not coping that well.

AMPHETAMINES & YOUR TEETH

If you’ve been doing speed or ice (amphetamine or methamphetamine) for a while you might notice your mouth not coping that well.

Because it stimulates your central nervous system, it is common to find yourself not salivating as much as normal. Good old spit is responsible for fighting bacteria in your mouth so you may find yourself with bad breath, tooth decay and gum problems. Speed also leads to peripheral vasoconstriction, a fancy way of saying it lowers the blood flow to your gums and teeth causing even more problems.

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If you’ve been doing speed or ice (amphetamine or methamphetamine) for a while you might notice your mouth not coping that well.

PAP SMEARS FOR WOMEN

Cancer of the cervix is one of the most preventable cancers. The Pap smear is a test that can detect early changes in the cervix (neck of the womb), before cancer develops. A Pap smear every two years reduces occurrence and deaths from cervical cancer. Three out of four women who develop cervical cancer have not had regular Pap smears.

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Abscesses are something most of us have encountered before and they can be excruciatingly painful for injecting drug users

BETTER EATING & DIET

A serious commitment to your drug of choice can mean your diet takes a back seat. Here are a few tips on stoking the fires without affecting your finances too badly.

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If you’ve been doing speed or ice (amphetamine or methamphetamine) for a while you might notice your mouth not coping that well.

PREPARING FOR A SPEED SESSION

It pays to prepare for a speed (amphetamine) session in advance. Once under the influence of amphetamines, it can be tricky remembering or planning for common sense things that will ensure a safe time for all. Organise everything as much as possible in advance!

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Tattoos, body piercing, branding, cutting and scarification are all body art

SAFER BODY ART

What is body art? Tattoos, body piercing, branding, cutting and scarification are all body art. In Australia the most popular forms of body art are tattoos and body piercing.

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A large percentage of bacteria, enjoy free accommodation on that two square metres of covering you’ve got – your skin. They usually aren’t bad guys, unless they find a way to get into your bloodstream.

YOUR GUIDE TO BACTERIA

or 'thanks for the free accommodation'

From babyhood through to your death, your body is a breeding ground for over 200 species of bacteria. A large percentage of bacteria, enjoy free accommodation on that two square metres of covering you’ve got – your skin. They usually aren’t bad guys, unless they find a way to get into your bloodstream.

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Abscesses are something most of us have encountered before and they can be excruciatingly painful for injecting drug users

ENDOCARDITIS

Mainly caused by bacteria entering the skin through injecting, infective Endocarditis (infective Endocarditis) can be extremely unpleasant and has a nasty habit of ironing you out completely if left untreated. Know the signs and symptoms!

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