General
This curriculum is old and is only available for historical purposes.
The use of bleach as a disinfectant for drug injection equipment in the intravenous-drug-using population was recommended early in the HIV-1/AIDS epidemic. Epidemiological studies have challenged the use of bleach as an effective measure to prevent HIV-1 transmission.
In recent ECHO discussion, the question of using household bleach to clean syringes was discussed. The NMDOH Harm Reduction Program does not recommend the use of bleach to clean syringes in order for syringes to be reāused. The recommendation is that participants use a new syringe for each shot.