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Are Injection Needles Reusable?

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When trying to administer a drug into a body system, an injection might be the fastest or the only way to do so effectively. Since its inception, the needle and syringe system has become a common item in all clinical settings. Some people have, however, removed the clinical needle from the medical facilities and into the streets for drug abuse. 

  

Disposable syringes and needles have been in use since 1903. However, limited or the lack of healthcare financing and shortage of medical needles has tempted or forced some healthcare providers to reuse syringes and needles instead of disposing of them. Reusing of injection needles is also common among drug addicts and people who use insulin injections.

  

This goes to show how a lot of people are dependent on syringes, making them use injections frequently, which sometimes can lead to a shortages. This leads us to the question – is it safe to resue them?


Is it safe to reuse injection needles? 

This question is up for debate depending on who you ask and the reason why one would choose to reuse an injection needle. Acute shortages caused by high demand especially during mass immunization campaigns can force reuse. This might be the case if or when COVID-19’s vaccine is invented and directed to be administered through injection needles. Reports suggest that it is not safe to reuse injection needles in many, if not all circumstances. There is the risk of transmitting diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis even after disinfecting and sterilizing.


A report by the World Health Organization indicates that 2000 reused needles caused over 20 million new Hepatitis infections and over 260,000 new infections of HIV all over the world. Many other infections go unreported.

 

Conclusion

To answer the question of whether injection needles are reusable, technically they are, however, it is not advisable to do so due to the health risks involved. Health organizations strictly forbid this practice.