One of the outcomes of the opioid epidemic is an increased rate of intravenous (IV) drug use — meaning directly injecting opioids or other substances into a vein. It’s a practice that layers risk on top of risk. Yet unfortunately, simply knowing the risks isn’t an effective deterrent, nor a bridge to addiction treatment.

As the parent or caretaker of someone struggling with opioid use (including heroin, fentanyl and most prescription pain relievers) it’s important to recognize how and why IV drug use may become a factor. This series of four videos (approx. 12 minutes in total) will help you better understand the relationship between opioid addiction and IV drug use, the additional risks created by IV use, how to spot early warning signs and, most importantly, become better equipped to help your loved one.