Intramuscular (IM) injecting 

How to inject more safely 

Injecting will always carry risk.

If you’re injecting into muscles, these tips can help you reduce harm.

Before you inject 

• Check the contents of the vial or amp before you draw up. If you see bits in the fluid and it’s meant to be clear, for example, throw it away, as it could be dangerous to use

• Remember - the ingredients, strength and purity can vary between manufacturers, so even if you take drugs regularly, the actual dose may differ from batch to batch

• Rotate which muscles you inject into – this gives your body time to heal between injections. Injecting into broken, irritated or lumpy skin can increase your risk of infection

Always use the right needle and the right barrel

• Use a new, sterile needle every time – this reduces your risk of injuries and infections

• Stick to your own needles, vials and amps – using your own equipment can prevent the spread of blood-borne viruses (BBVS) like hep B, hep C and HIV. You can get clean equipment from any substance use service and many pharmacies

• Greens for drawing up, blues for injecting. A blue needle is long enough to get the fluid into your muscle without hitting a bone

• Don't use barrels bigger than 2ml – if you use bigger barrels, you may draw up too much liquid. Injecting too much liquid can cause problems like scarring and abscesses (a pus-filled lump under your skin)

Make sure you’re injecting in the right place

The safest places to inject are your glutes, quads and delts.

It’s easier to inject into these bigger muscles, but the below information can help to reduce the risk of hitting blood vessels or nerves.

• Glutes – your glutes are the safest place to inject. Imagining that your buttock is divided into four,  inject into the upper, outer quarter (see diagram). This is so you don’t hit the sciatic nerve, which runs down the centre of your buttock.
• Quads – your quads are the next safest area to inject after the glutes. Inject into your outer thigh, half way between your knee and the top of your leg.
• Delts – injecting into your delts carries more risk because the muscle is smaller.

Avoid injecting into other muscles, as this increases your risk of problems like nerve damage which can affect your training. 

Visit your local needle and syringe service

Needles and syringe services are free services where steroid users are welcome.

Find a needle and syringe service near you

They’re completely confidential. Staff won’t tell anyone that you’ve been there, including your work or GP.

Some services have specialists in steroids and other image and performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs). Ask if a specialist is available when you go in.

As well as new needles, barrels, swabs and bins, staff can help with:

• safer injecting advice
• advice on sore or infected injecting sites
• testing for hepatitis C and HIV
• hepatitis B vaccinations
• free condoms and sexual health advice
• disposal bins

What to expect when you visit a needle and syringe service