Editing Needle sharing (section)

{{short description|Practice of intravenous drug-users}}
'''Needle sharing''' is the practice of intravenous drug-users by which a needle or [[syringe]] is shared by multiple individuals to administer [[intravenous drug]]s such as heroin, steroids, and hormones.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avert.org/hiv-transmission-prevention/injecting-drugs|title=Sharing needles to inject drugs, and HIV|date=2015-06-23|website=Avert|language=en|access-date=2019-11-14}}</ref> This is a primary vector for [[Blood-borne disease|blood-borne diseases]] which can be transmitted through blood (blood-borne pathogens).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/policy/hst/hi5/cleansyringes/index.html|title=Access to clean syringes {{!}} Health Impact in 5 Years {{!}} Health System Transformation {{!}} AD for Policy {{!}} CDC|date=2019-07-01|website=www.cdc.gov|language=en-us|access-date=2019-11-14}}</ref> People who inject drugs (PWID) are at an increased risk for [[Hepatitis C]] (HCV) and [[HIV]] due to needle sharing practices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/hiv/topics/idu/en/|title=People who inject drugs|website=World Health Organization|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-10-31}}</ref> From 1933 to 1943, [[Plasmodium falciparum|malaria]] was spread between users in the [[New York City]] area by this method. Afterwards, the use of [[quinine]] as a [[cutting agent]] in drug mixes became more common.<ref>{{cite book|last=Helpern|first=Milton | name-list-style = vanc |title=Autopsy : the memoirs of Milton Helpern, the world's greatest medical detective|year=1977|publisher=St. Martin's Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-312-06211-8|pages=70–71|chapter=An Epidemic of Sorts}}</ref> Harm reduction efforts including safe disposal of needles, [[Supervised injection site|supervised injection sites]], and public education may help bring awareness on safer needle sharing practices.