Answer to your Question

Answered By: Addiction Specialist

Answer: Your son most likely has an abscess which is an infection in the skin that can result from injection drug use. Abscesses are a common health problem associated with IV drug use and are caused by bacteria that get into or beneath the skin. These bacteria can come from a dirty needle, the drug that's being injected, or from the skin itself. There are bacteria that live on everyone's skin that normally don't cause any problems but if they get pushed beneath the skin or into a vein they can cause infection. The proper treatment of a skin abscess involves a procedure that is called "incision and drainage" and a course of antibiotics. Without this treatment there is a chance that more serious problems could develop so it is important that your son go to a doctor or the emergency room. The procedure needs to be done by a doctor using sterile instruments but many addicts attempt to do it themselves. Unfortunately this often ends up making the abscess worse and can lead to much more serious infections. If your son refuses to go to the ER you can try showing him these pictures of skin abscesses from IV drug users. http://www.laweekly.com/2006-10-19/news/the-scourge-of-skid-row/2

Answered on: December 10, 2008