Why would my friend request IV supplies?

[callie104]

I came home from clinicals with extra IV stuff (20 gauge needle, hub, etc) in my scrubs pockets by accident, and joked about stealing hospital supplies. One of my friends overheard and asked if I would give it to him for "next time he's hungover." My boyfriend pulled me aside later and said not to - that he would tell me why when we were alone, but he never mentioned it and I don't want to appear nosy by asking. I'm just curious what people would want an IV kit for - I'm assuming it's drug related, but do people really use them to give themselves fluid after a hangover? In school, we joke about putting coffee into IVs, and I heard on the news the other night about IV vitamins for hangovers. What, exactly, would they be used for outside of a hospital?

[sandanrnstudent]

you said it, drug related!

[decembergrad2011, BSN, RN]

If I had to guess, I would say your friend thought access to a clean needle was better than a dirty needle. You are in a strange position with this friend now, in my opinion, because they may continue to ask you about supplies. It would be best to go ahead and nip it in the bud if he asks again by stating, "I'm not sure why you would need these things...is there a medical issue you want to talk about? Maybe I could help refer you to a facility that will help you on a sliding scale." It's very likely that he'll come up with some excuse, but it might lead to a good dialogue.

I would not give anyone supplies from the hospital. I've come home with NS flushes and needles accidentally in my scrubs before, but they typically go into my bag and are used the next time I'm on the floor.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

I would assume the comment about the "next time he's hungover" means he was joking about giving himself fluids to rehydrate.

Regardless, you don want to even leave the hospital with that stuff let alone give it away to anyone. Hospitals around here are really cracking down on supplies loss.

[veggie530]

He's not a wrestler or an MMA fighter or anything, right? Because it's really common to give each other IV's and rehydrate after weigh ins.

Or, you know, shoot up heroin. lol

[2BRN123]

Has this friend of yours been on a big party weekend to like LA or vegas recently? In Vegas there's a thing called the "Hangover Heaven Truck" that will hook you up to a saline IV to kill your hangover...If so, maybe this is where he got the idea.

I know people who have done this without a medical professional.....Not that I can condone it but.... it does work, and people do it.

For the record, if friend asked you for these supplies thats definitely suspicious and you should not feel nosy asking your boyfriend for more info.

**sidebar** seasoned IV Drug users typically know just what size syringes work for them and most opiate users shoot for 26+

Mainlining heroin or cocaine with a 20 gauge needle is both dangerous, messy and unsustainable (from the users perspective).

20 gauge needle reads more: steroids...hgh....something IM. (even then that's still kinda huge for repeated injection)

[Bobmo88]

Some of my co-workers said that when they were younger they used to start IVs on each other after being hungover in Vegas and it would work. I would not give your friend the supplies though because if he/she ever did use it for drugs and something happened to them, it could come back to you.

[seanynjboy, BSN]

Simple answer......DO NOT GIVE HIM ANYTHING