Needles are not enough

In the 1980s, the UK and many other countries started developing needle programmes in an attempt to limit the impact that HIV was having on the injecting community and by extension the general public. Needle programmes have also become early engagement tools to help people get into treatment

The range of equipment provided has gradually increased with (in the UK) minor law changes to allow distribution of citric, filters, spoons and water. 30 years later and these projects are still helping keep HIV levels low and now they're helping minimise the risks of HepB and HepC.

But this intervention only works with injectors. Injectors are likely to have been using drugs for a number of years already, so surely supplying equipment to people smoking or snorting their drug of choice should be a logical next step in early engagement.