ArticleThe International journal on drug policy2015
Fire in the vein: Heroin acidity and its proximal effect on users' health.
Article in The International journal on drug policy, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
36 citing papers in PubMed, 68 citations in OpenAlex.
- Differential risk for Hepatitis C and HIV among people who inject drugs in Kenya: a latent class analysis signaling needs for innovation in service delivery.The International journal on drug policy · 2025Article
- Bacterial and fungal infections in persons who inject drugs.Clinical microbiology reviews · 2025Review
- Tranq burn: Exploring the etiology of xylazine-related soft tissue injuries.The International journal on drug policy · 2025Article
- Decrease in injection and rise in smoking and snorting of heroin and synthetic opioids, 2000-2021.Drug and alcohol dependence · 2024Article
- Social determinants of injection drug use-associated bacterial infections and treatment outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2024Article
- Development, acceptability and feasibility of a personalised, behavioural intervention to prevent bacterial skin and soft tissue infections among people who inject drugs: a mixed-methods Person-Based Approach study.Harm reduction journal · 2023Article
- Management of the infected arterial pseudoaneurysm secondary to groin injecting drug use and outcomes: a systematic review protocol.BMJ open · 2023Article
- A method of diamorphine (heroin) administration for harm reduction.Harm reduction journal · 2023Review
- Ultrasound-guided phlebotomy in primary care for people who inject drugs.Harm reduction journal · 2023Article
- Safety and feasibility of intranasal heroin-assisted treatment: 4-week preliminary findings from a Swiss multicentre observational study.Harm reduction journal · 2023Observational
- Chronic unilateral groin pain in a young patient who injects drugs: a case report of needle fragment retentions.Addiction science & clinical practice · 2022Article
- Prevalence and factors associated with chronic venous insufficiency, leg ulceration and deep-vein thrombosis among people who inject drugs in London, UK.Drug and alcohol review · 2022Article
- «One prick and then it´s done»: a mixed-methods exploratory study on intramuscular injection in heroin-assisted treatment.Harm reduction journal · 2021Article
- Predictors of skin and soft tissue infections among sample of rural residents who inject drugs.Harm reduction journal · 2020Article
- Hepatitis A virus survival on drug paraphernalia.Journal of viral hepatitis · 2020Article
- Opportunities to Offer Harm Reduction to People who Inject Drugs During Infectious Disease Encounters: Narrative Review.Open forum infectious diseases · 2020Review
- Harm Reduction Services to Prevent and Treat Infectious Diseases in People Who Use Drugs.Infectious disease clinics of North America · 2020Review
- The Clinical Microbiology Laboratory and the Opioid Epidemic: Challenges and Opportunities.Infectious disease clinics of North America · 2020Review
- Soft Tissue, Bone, and Joint Infections in People Who Inject Drugs.Infectious disease clinics of North America · 2020Review
- High prevalence of albuminuria amongst people who inject drugs: A cross-sectional study.Scientific reports · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
The loss of functioning veins (venous sclerosis) is a root cause of suffering for long-term heroin injectors. In addition to perpetual frustration and loss of pleasure/esteem, venous sclerosis leads to myriad medical consequences including skin infections, for example, abscess, and possibly elevated HIV/HCV risks due to injection into larger jugular and femoral veins. The etiology of venous sclerosis is unknown and users' perceptions of cause/meaning unexplored. This commentary stems from our hypothesis that venous sclerosis is causally related to heroin acidity, which varies by heroin source-form and preparation. We report pilot study data on first ever in vivo measurements of heroin pH and as well as qualitative data on users' concerns and perceptions regarding the caustic nature of heroin and its effects. Heroin pH testing in natural settings is feasible and a useful tool for further research. Our preliminary findings, for example, that different heroin source-forms and preparations have a two log difference in acidity, have potentially broad, vital and readily implementable harm reduction implications.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.