Screens for Smoking
PUBLISHED ON 05/01/25
When smoking from a glass pipe, a screen can be used as a barrier to minimize the chances of inhaling metal debris, chemical residues, fragments, and loose burning particles. Inhaling any of these can cause burns or cuts on the lips, inside the mouth, in the throat, and ultimately can irritate or inflame the respiratory lining. Having an open wound in your mouth or throat when sharing a pipe can greatly increase the risk of spreading bloodborne pathogens such as Hepatitis C. Screens are usually prepared by rolling, folding, or twisting a small piece of the material you choose to use and packing it into the stem of a pipe with a chopstick. Steel wool is commonly used as a screen because it’s easy to prepare and easily accessible, however it is not recommended. Unfortunately steel wool degrades easily with handling, stem insertion, and the heat being applied to the stem of the pipe. This can increase the amount of the debris being inhaled. Chore boy is another commonly used material for screens. Chore boy is made of copper which is a safer alternative to steel wool due to it being more durable when heated or manipulated. Brass and stainless steel screens are the safest option due to their strength, malleability, and heat resistance– and these materials are less likely to break apart while being used. This decreases the possibility of debris entering the lungs. Brass screens or chore boy are commonly offered in safer smoking supplies distributed by harm reduction agencies. Screens are mostly associated with straight stems which are usually used to smoke crack, but can also be used with hammer pipes to smoke heroin. Regardless what drugs are being smoked out of which pipe, screens are a great tool to decrease potential damage to the lungs and the body.
STEM/STRAIGHT PIPE
HAMMER PIPE
As mentioned before, the risk of smoking a glass pipe includes burns and cuts which can lead to the spread of bloodborne pathogens. Though it is not recommended to share any safer use supplies, it happens. If pipes are being shared, they should be cleaned with alcohol wipes between each turn a new person is taking. Mouth pieces are another great tool that can prevent burns to the mouth and the spread of bloodborne pathogens. A mouthpiece is a short piece of vinyl tube but they can also be made of rubber spark plugs. They’re placed at the straight end of a pipe and smoked through acting as a barrier between the heated pipe and your lips. Screens made of any material need to be replaced with repeated use. If you are using a steel wool screen, try replacing the screen as often as possible because they are the weakest material used for smoking screens. Pipes should also be replaced when they begin to darken with residue to lessen the impact on your lungs. If you do not have access to a new pipe, cleaning the inside of the pipe will reduce the amount of bacteria inside and be safer to smoke from. If you have asthma, use your inhaler regularly to be able to breathe as best as possible. If you have a respiratory infection, try temporarily changing your route of administration to something like booty bumping if at all possible to lessen the impact on your respiratory system. Preserving the health of your lungs is so important especially if you smoke your drugs.
Currently Next distro offers mesh brass screen pieces in our safer smoking kits. These screens can be prepped to be packed into a pipe by being rolled or folded and pushed into the pipe using a chopstick. FOLDED
PACKED
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