Vein Care with Tony
Friday, 24 October, 2025
Whether you're new to injecting or have been doing it for years there are always risks to be mindful of. The good news is that there are practical ways to look after your veins and keep them healthier for longer. Tony, a blood borne virus (BBV) outreach worker at NUAA, sat down with Users News to share his knowledge about all things vein care.
Before moving into the outreach role, Tony worked at NUAA’s former NSP in Surry Hills where he had a chance to help service users get a better understanding of the health of their veins.
The Vein Finder
“Often the thing that gets people's attention is our Vein Finder or the Vein-a-Scope. It's a light we shine on your arms, and it shows veins just below the surface of the skin,” Tony says.
For Tony, it's not just about the wow factor.
“The thing I love about it is that it gives people an idea where their veins are which is very close to the surface of the skin. I like that because when we have good healthy veins, they are close to the surface.”
“It's usually when veins or the surrounding tissue become damaged that people start 'digging' and that can be problematic because the deeper you go, the closer you are to things like nerves arteries and tendons.”
The deeper you go, the more you're risking hitting nerves, arteries, and tendons.
“Injecting in or near these spots can cause permanent nerve damage, loss of limbs and death. Getting infections like abscesses in deeper tissue and around arteries and nerves are a lot harder to treat and can do a lot of damage,” says Tony.
Staying shallow isn't just safer, it's also easier. Veins near the surface are more accessible and you can see and feel them better, which means less time searching and less trauma to your body overall.
Learning to Feel
“Learning to feel for a vein is so important. Feeling for a vein will tell you where it is, how deep it is and even how to adjust for rolling veins,” Tony explains. A rolling vein is a vein that moves easily when a needle is inserted, causing it to slip sideways and making injecting or procedures like blood tests difficult.
Rolling veins can be tricky, but Tony has a tip: “Rolling veins sometimes need to be accessed a little from the side, so still a 45-degree angle, but from the side instead of head on. It gives the vein less room to roll out of the way.”
Feeling for veins has another benefit too. “Feeling will also tell the difference between a scar or shadow and a vein. When relying only on eyesight alone it can be hard to tell the difference. Fewer attempts mean less damage.”
When you're feeling for a vein, use your index or middle finger and press gently.
A healthy vein will feel soft and bouncy, kind of like pressing on a half-filled water balloon. It should have some give to it.
If it feels hard or cord-like, that might be scar tissue. An artery will have a pulse you can feel, so if you feel a regular beat, move on and find a different spot.
Keep Breathing
One tip that Tony says surprises a lot of people is simply reminding them to breathe.
“A lot of people look a bit baffled when I ask them if they hold their breath but often, they will come back and tell me that with that in mind, they did notice that they hold or restrict their breathing right at the point of going into the vein.”
Tony says it's a natural response.
“It's one of those fight or flight mechanisms that we do without thinking. If we feel the stress or anxiety of injecting, our bodies interpret that as danger and fight or flight kicks in. It's perfectly natural but counterproductive when we're trying to have our shot.”
Tony explains that holding your breath lowers pressure in the veins. To work properly and to deliver the best shot, you need pressure.
“It may sound strange, but keep it in mind next time you use, and you might notice. ,” Tony suggests.
Try taking a few slow, deep breaths before you inject.
Not only will this help keep the pressure up in your veins, but it can also help you feel calmer and steadier, which means your hands are less likely to shake.
Some people find it helpful to breathe in as they prepare, and then breathe out slowly and steadily as they go in.
Staying Hydrated
“It's easy to become dehydrated while using. Some drugs make the idea of drinking water very unappealing, but the fact is that our bodies need water,” Tony says.
Tony gets into the science a bit here.
“Veins, like our whole bodies, are mainly water, and the walls of our veins are like thin muscle tissue. The first organs that are affected by dehydration are muscle tissue.”
Our veins carry water and nutrients to every single organ - liver, kidneys, skin, brain, stomach, intestines, lungs - everything.
“Our brain needs a lot of water and oxygen. Dehydration can lead very quickly to physical and cognitive impairment, psychosis and even death,” Tony warns.
When we're dehydrated, we are more likely to damage ourselves by missing or going straight through the vein which sets off an immune response like inflammation or swelling, says Tony
This can cause tiny amounts of blood to block the syringe which, in turn, often makes people dig around not realising they’ve possibly already hit a vein.
“Apart from being incredibly frustrating, we might carry on digging until we must pull out and only then realise our fit is blocked,” Tony says.
Think about how much easier it is to find a vein after you've had a good drink of water. Your veins are fuller, they stand out more, and they're easier to hit.
When you're dehydrated, everything becomes harder - finding the vein, getting in smoothly, and avoiding damage.
The Balloon Example
If you’re convinced Tony has a great way of explaining this.
“Imagine two balloons. One fully inflated and the other half inflated. Now imagine trying to pop them with a pin.
“The one that is fully blown up will pop very quickly and easily, but you might notice that the one half inflated will be a lot harder to get the pin into without dragging and ripping the surface.”
“If you imagine your veins as the balloons, it becomes easier to see why a quick pop is going to cause a lot less damage in the inflated vein than the saggy half full one.”
The Practical Side of Staying Hydrated
“The practical way to hydrate is to stay hydrated and drink water regularly. A glass of water five minutes before a shot is like 'pissing in the river' and thinking the water might rise,” Tony emphasises.
If you're not a fan of water, Tony's got you covered.
“If you can't stand the taste of water, then mask the taste with cordial or try juice or anything else you might think of. That is better than not drinking water at all.”
One more thing to remember: “Things like coffee tea and coke have caffeine in them. They're wet, but they don't really hydrate.”
Sports drinks (like Powerade or Gatorade) or electrolyte tablets can be helpful too, especially if you've been using for a while and haven't eaten much. Coconut water can also be an option as it has more electrolytes than plain water, though less than sports drinks.
Electrolytes are essential minerals that help your body absorb water better.
Even if you're not a fan of plain water, there are plenty of options. Just make sure you're getting fluids into your body regularly throughout the day.
The Long-Term Picture
Every single time we go into a vein, “we create tiny clots of blood (safest scenario) on the inside and outside the walls of the vein.”
Tony explains that over time the clots become scar tissue which grows every time we inject, especially in flesh that is already inflamed. The inflamed flesh will press on the vein making our narrow gap even harder to get.
This is why rotating your injection sites is so important. If you keep using the same spot repeatedly, you're not giving it any time to heal.
The scar tissue builds up faster, the vein gets harder to access, and eventually it might collapse completely.
By moving around and using different sites, you give each area a break and a chance to recover. Rotation can simply mean moving up and down the same vein, as long as you’re not re-using the exact same site.
Other Ways to Look After Your Veins
Beyond hydration and technique, there are other things you can do to keep your veins in better shape:
Warm up your injection site. A warm compress or a warm shower before injecting can help bring your veins closer to the surface and make them easier to access. The warmth increases blood flow and makes veins more visible and easy to feel for.
Use the right equipment. Always use clean, new needles and fits, and inject with the needle bevel (the little hole you can see) facing upward. A blunt or used needle causes more damage going in and coming out. If you're at an NSP, ask about different needle gauges. Sometimes a finer needle, if suitable, is gentler on your veins.
Take your time. Rushing leads to mistakes. Missed shots, blown veins, and unnecessary damage often happen when people are in a hurry. Give yourself time to prepare properly, find a good vein, and inject carefully.
Watch for warning signs. If an area is red, swollen, hot to touch, or painful, give it a rest. These are signs of inflammation or infection, and continuing to inject or dig in that spot will only make things worse. If you notice any of these signs getting worse, or if you develop a fever, it's time to see a doctor or visit a health service.
Clean your injection site. Use an alcohol swab before injecting. This simple step can prevent a lot of infections and complications. Wipe the area from the injection site outwards in one motion and let the alcohol dry completely before you inject. If you don't have access to alcohol swabs, you can use a tiny amount of alcohol hand sanitiser on a clean cotton wool ball, tissue, or piece of toilet paper. If no hand sanitiser is available, wash your hands and the injection site thoroughly with warm soapy water. Antiseptic spray or liquid is another alternative.
Caring for Damaged Veins
The above tips are all about minimising damage to your veins, and this prevention is key. Once you’re past a certain point, it’s hard to go back.
However, sometimes things may not go to plan. If you do end up with some damage to your veins, the following tips will be helpful.
After injecting, put pressure on the site with clean cotton wool, gauze, or even the pad that comes with a Stericup for a few minutes.
The pressure will help stop surface bleeding fairly quickly, but holding for a few minutes will also help slow and stop internal bleeding. Avoid using an alcohol swab as this will encourage bleeding and may sting. Elevate the site if possible.
If you notice you have a bruise bump forming, arnica or hirudoid cream (found at most chemists) can assist in preventing scarring. It won’t reverse existing scarring but can help stop new ones from forming.
Tony highlights the importance of paying attention.
“Look out for differences in places where you may have missed the shot. If it starts to feel warm or throb, then immediately go to your doctor – I can’t stress that enough.”
“Infection can become serious very quickly. If you don’t have a doctor that you trust, call a nurse on Health Direct (1800 022 222) and they can give you non-judgemental practical information over the phone,” he explains.
In the case of a missed shot, a warm compress can be a good thing to get the circulation going under the skin. A little bit of gentle massaging is good for substances like ice that may not absorb easily under the skin.
If you have an open wound or abscess, the best thing to do is keep it clean.
If the wound is weeping you can cover it with a clean bandage until the weeping subsides, otherwise allowing it to dry and heal naturally is the best way to go.
A weeping wound produces fluid during the healing process. While some fluid is normal and a sign of healing. The fluid is often clear, yellow, or pale red, but if it becomes thick, yellow, green, or foul-smelling, it can be a sign of infection and requires medical attention.
When dry, avoid the urge to pick or scratch the scab off prematurely.
In Summary
Tony’s Tips:
Stay hydrated and learn to feel your vein.
Become confident with the process so that each injection uses the least amount of time and does the least amount of damage.
Rotate your spot to give your veins time to heal and reduce the amount of stress and inflammation in the area.
This will keep your veins and body safer and healthier for much longer.
If you have further questions or would like additional information, call NUAA’s PeerLine on 1800 644 413. NUAA’s online NSP stocks a range of injecting and auxiliary equipment which can be ordered here.