Injecting in the arms is the least dangerous location . The loss of usable arm veins will leave the injector with stark choices : either to stop injecting and switch to another route of administration , or to move to another site on the body with greater risks . It is for this reason that injectors should be encouraged to do everything they can to preserve the veins in their arm for as long as possible . It is important that workers seeing clients who are having difficulty accessing veins in their arms discuss with them the plans they have for the time when it becomes impossible . Reinforcing any taboos the client has about moving to more dangerous sites may help prevent or delay transitions to more dangerous routes of injection . If he or she does not have any taboos , you should try to talk to him / her in a more direct and objective way to avoid a lack of trust or rejection . Provide strategies for maintaining vein health ( see Safer Injecting Practices listed previously in this document ).
Hands
The veins on the backs of the hands can be highly visible , although they tend to be small and fragile . As it can be difficult to hide the evidence of injecting here , many injectors avoid these sites . Furthermore , if complications such as infection or cellulites occur , they are likely to be much more disabling in the hand than in the arm and lead to severe problems , especially if rings are on the fingers . Fingers should be avoided , as the veins are very small . If clients insist on injecting in their fingers , they should understand the vital importance of