risk of contracting hep c through sharing cocaine straws?

[taketothesky]

I'm curious... really, how high is the risk of getting Hep C through sharing straws, or dollar bills with cocaine use? Can you get it just from sharing, period, or in order to get it, does there have to be blood involved?

[meki]

There is a contaminant chance of using implements for drug usage - especially IVDU and cocaine/snorting straws - that HCV can be passed - YES.

If the person handing you the straw they just used - and they had a nose bleed and you also have a nose bleed (even a miniscule one) - then yes - there is a chance you can contaminate others or yourself.

The mechanism for contamination is blood --- HCV is a BLOOD BORNE PATHOGEN.

In other words - any blood - into other blood.

My suggestion is to stay away from items like cocaine and implements that are shared.

Sharing anything is a NO NO in the world of diseases... And drug usage isn't very good on the body or mind and soul.

If you need help with all of that - talk to a few folks here - they've been through everything you can imagine - and have great words of wisdom.

Much luck!
Meki

[taketothesky]

Thanks for the input, Meki.  And thank you for your concern, but I don't have a cocaine problem. I use it maybe 5 times a year - and I realize that it's not good to be using it at all - but I honestly don't like it enough to do it all the time. Still, I know I shouldn't put myself in these positions, at all.

The reason I asked was because all the resources I found on the net concerning this as a possible mode of transmission made it sound like it could happen with OR without blood present.  I knew that it was a bloodbourne disease, but my anxiety got the best of me, and I figured this would be a good place to ask. I'm also a severe hypochondriac, so I will absolutely take your advice, listen to my logic, and not share any kind of drug paraphernalia, regardless. Luckily, my only addiction is tobacco these days, and I'm working on changing that.

thanks again!

[meki]

Just so you know - I'm an advocate of getting a HEP panel every 2 years for every human being alive.

Good luck with everything - and yeah - this is a GREAT place to ask! Great folks - with lots of info and input to provide.

Meki

[ClippedWings]

Visible bleeding is not even necessary.  The nose and nasal passages have thin membranes with the blood near the surface even when healthy.  That's one of the reasons snorting drugs is so effective.  Combine that with the irritants found in most snorted drugs and you have a recipe for miniscule amounts of blood to be transferred- you don't need to be able to see the blood that carries the HCV virus.  If you must, bring enough clean snorting devices for you and all your friends.  Not as socialable, but far less risky.

[GSDgirl]

I will admit that I did quite a lot of coccaine (snorting) 25 years ago and so did just about everyone I hung around with.  I can tell you this much, people that snort a lot or regularly snort have very tender nasal membranes.  Add that to the winter months with the dry heat and the occasional "regular" sensitive membranes.  I can see that way of transmission being very viable.  JMHO

Denise

[fretboard]

I'm glad you don't have a cocaine problem, as years ago I did and it's not a pretty sight at all.  Anyways if you like your coke, five times a year or whatever go ahead, but please use your own straw, dollar bill or whatever and don't be to proud to rock the boat.  HepC is very frustrating to have in your system, it's extremely tenacious and extremely hard to treat.  One of the ladies I know who was into snorting said that she had a hole worn into the side of her nostril.  Whether it was true or not, only her hair dresser knows for sure. lol  Be careful, cause now you know the truth.  God Bless

[desrt]

It's sillieness trying to quantify risk or weighing the use of clean paraphenalia. Whether it's five times a day or five times a year, eventually you'll hit the jackpot. Tainted product, implement, or surface, what difference does it make? Next we'll be arguing nasal wind velocity and mucus membrane vibrational frequency.
Risk taking is risk taking.

[taketothesky]

With that comment, I was merely stating that I didn't have a cocaine problem... not that the fact that I do it sparingly puts me less at risk. Just to clarify. I'm well aware that it could take one time to contract ANYTHING if I'm not careful.