ARTERIAL INJECTION

Injecting drugs into a vein is not a simple task.  There are a number of things that can go wrong.  The man in the picture at left was attempting to inject amphetamine (speed) into a vein, but instead injected it into an artery.  The artery constricted and the blood supply to the arm and hand was cut off.  Dry gangrene developed in the right hand, and four of his fingers eventually had to be amputated.

The picture at right shows the hand of a young woman who was mainlining barbiturate.  She also hit an artery instead of a vein and developed gangrene in the tips of her fingers.

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