# IV Drug Use Using IV drugs, especially when you're sharing needles, can be especially risky. Here are some risks of IV drugs and sharing needles: * Skin infections and abscesses * Blood infections from improperly cleaning the injection site before use * Infections of the heart and lungs * Blood-borne diseases such as HIV or hepatitis The best way to reduce these risks is to stop using IV drugs. If that's not possible for you right now, making sure that you consistently use a clean needle will reduce your chances of getting some diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV. California does have several options to help you dispose of your used needles and get clean ones: * Syringe exchange programs (SEPs, also known as syringe services programs) * For a complete list of programs, visit * Nonprescription syringe sale in pharmacies --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://www.healthywhilehomeless.org/addiction/iv-drug-use.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.