Substance Use Transmission: Sharing needles and works during injection drug use is a high-risk behavior for passing HIV from one person to another Since blood maybe present in the needle, syringe, cooker or water used during injecting, HIV can be easily passed when people share any of these equipment items By always using sterile injection equipment and not sharing equipment can help protect people who inject drugs from HIV A special assessment must be conducted for people who inject drugs under 18 years of age who request enrollment in syringe exchange programs To find syringe exchange programs near you, visit www thepointny org People who inject drugs may also consider taking PrEP, a daily medication that can prevent an HIV negative person from getting HIV Please see questions 6 & 7 to find out more about how to protect yourself and obtain new injection equipment in New York State
