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Safer injecting: Cookers
The first step when preparing an injection is to dissolve the drug
The product to be injected -whether in powder, solid or tablet forme, must first be dissolved in water. It may also need to be heated to facilitate dissolution.
People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) therefore need a container. In the absence of suitable equipment, they may use table spoons, bottle caps or any other available container.
Sterile, safe and adapted containers are available for drug preparation.
Different health authorities (in Europe, in Canada, ...) recommend that syringe exchange programs distribute cookers in the same way as syringes.
According to the EMCDDA, cookers should be part of the "basic set of essential harm reduction equipment forpeople who inject drugs".
Why do sterile cookers reduce risks?
Viral risk
- Several studies have shown a correlation between the sharing of cookers and HIV transmission.
- This correlation has also been demonstrated with the transmission of the hepatitis C virus.
- The risk of viral transmission associated with the sharing of cookers is much lower than when sharing syringes... but this sharing is more frequent!
- It is therefore recommended to supply cookers of a capacity adapted to the preparation of a single injection, in order to avoid shared preparations.
- Sufficient quantities should be available and distributed to avoid sharing.
Bacterial risk
- Any non-sterile cooker is at risk of being contaminated with bacteria that can lead to potentially severe infections.
- A 2019 study showed a significant association between a history of abscesses and sharing cookers in the last 3 months.
- A 2020 study showed that not using sterile cookers was signficantly associated with the risk of developing infective endocarditis.
- It is therefore recommanded that sterile, single-use cookers be supplied in sufficient quantity to avoid re-use.
Apothicom's offer
These cookers are made of aluminum, proven safe even when heated.
They feature a plastic handle that ensures stability and protects fingers from heat.
They are available in 5 different colours, to avoid accidental sharing.
In sterile blister packs, they also include, depending on the version, a cotton filter to eliminate high-risk particles and/or a dry post-injection pad.
Did you know?
Heating reduces risks of infection
In Canada, heating cookers is officially recommended for all drugs.
A 2019 study showed that the amount of bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus, can be signficantly reduced by heating to boiling.
A second study in 2019 showed that heating to boiling
destroys HIV. Boiling occurs in less than 10 seconds.
It is therefore important to provide PWID with heat-resistant cookers.
Key points
Proven benefit
Distribution of sterile cookers reduces injection-related risks.
Single use
Cookers are single-use and must be strictly personal.
Adapted capacity
It is necessary to tend to PWID's needs in terms of cooker's capacity.
