Equipment for Play Piercing
The previous posting “An Unusual Exchange ” got me thinking. What sort of other exchanges are likely to come along that would pose problems for most needle exchange workers (I may even make this a semi regular section).
So today’s posting covers play piercing: The act of temporarily piercing the skin, sometimes just with needles but sometimes putting rings etc in place. I’ll cover some of the reasons why play piercing happens, legal issues, funding issues and some of the problems workers may face.
What is play piercing?
Wikipeadia describes play piercing as body piercing done for the purpose of enjoying the experience rather than producing a permanent body decoration. Needles, sharpened bones, or other tools used in play piercing are usually removed from the body when the episode is complete, allowing holes to heal over. Those who engage in play piercing may do so for self-expression, as a part of a ritual imitating mock tribal cultures, for the purpose of spiritual self-discovery, for sexual pleasure, for simple entertainment, raising awareness or relieving boredom.People will often insert large numbers of needles just under the skin, often in pattern formations. It would be unusual for people to be doing these activities alone and in most cases the piercing would be performed by a more experienced person/partner. This of course, as with injecting, increases the chances of acquiring blood borne viruses (BBV) like hepatitis. Either as a result of two people being pierced at the same time, or because of accidental transfer though needle injury or blood spillage.
Why should we supply equipment?
For some workers this won’t seem an issue at first glance, more relaxed services will give out equipment with no/few questions asked and not go into great detail of what the equipment is used for. However some managers/workers may have issues giving equipment to non substance users. Funding for needle exchange is quite specific on who the service is for i.e. drug users.
But…. one of the main stated goals of needle exchange is promotion of sexual health. I’d argue that in a large number of cases play piercing has a sexual element to it. Sexual health shouldn’t just stop at giving out condoms and the occasional tube of lube.
Add into this the possible BBV issues and this kind of exchange fits right into our remit. Personally I’d even get the service nurse to offer testing and vaccination.
Legal/other issues.
It’s not all an easy choice though. When we do any exchange part of the work should be covering legalities. Now I may be wrong (if I am please contact me with references!) but there are laws in the UK preventing piercing for any reasons other than aesthetic. There was the infamous “Operation Spanner” which prosecuted people for consensual BDSM including the piercer Mr.Sebastian.
The other issue some services may have is that in some cases play piercing can be used as a form of self injury, and as a result may come under the services protocols on mental health.
Conclusion
I’d say that play piercers are a valid group of people to supply equipment to. Some of the same advice we give to our injecting users is the same e.g. swabbing advice and BBVs. But there may well be training issues for staff around more unusual sexual behaviours. If so, this training should cover legal issues, risk factors and especially staff attitudes.
I don’t think in most areas this would come up with any regularity, but in larger cities it may be worth having a conversation with your manager to decide how you may handle the situation and others like it.
Related Links
Wikipedia article on play piercing. Click here.
Wikipedia article on Operation Spanner. Click Here.
Wikipedia article on Mr. Sebastian. Click here .
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