Shared Water & Bottle Cap

[multiplemistakes]

Please help: I am an injection drug user. I usually always use my own water and bottle cap to mix up in. I also always use my own needle.

Yesterday, I forgot a bottle of water and went into a shooting gallery (place where multiple people shoot up) and I used a bottle of water I found on the floor to mix my drugs up, and used the bottle cap to do the mixing in.

What are my chances here? Am i screwed?

[HowardH]

The issue is not whether drugs were mixed the the bottle. That's obvious. The only important thing is whether fresh blood could have gotten in there, for example if someone had a used needle or syringe (especially recently used) and then used it to suck up drug and water from the bottle. If so, it could have been contaminated with HIV. The virus certainly does not "die in water" -- it could survive a long time. Perhaps any virus would be highly diluted and therefore minimally infectious. On the other hand, when the virus is mainlined, it may take very little to be infectous. Same for hepatitis B and C.

So I repeat my previous advice. If it is possible the water came into contact with blood in the way I have described, see a doctor or clinic ASAP to discuss PEP.  It has to be soon; PEP is only recommended and effective if started within 72 hours, and under 24 hours is best.

[multiplemistakes]

Thank you Howard.

The problem is I have no idea where the water bottle was previously, and who had used it. However I'm sure it was used for drugs because of where it was.

I have read that HIV dies in water, or that it becomes inactive. What are your thoughts on this?

[HowardH]

If the bottle had recently been exposed to blood or used injection equipment, you could have been at risk. If that's how some users manage their equipment, you should see a doctor or clinic immediately and ask about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Otherwise, I see no reason for worry.

Good luck.