Every drug worker asks the question “Have you shared injecting equipment?” We have to.

It helps us measure risk factors for issues like HepC, we need it for our stats (its one of the questions the National Treatment Agency insists we ask), and it has a lot of associated harm reduction advice.

But let's be honest the answer given is almost always “No” even though research says it shouldn't be. So is there a better way of asking?

Hooked episode 20 is about the current news in the UK regarding the sacking of Professor David Nutt by the Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

Although this is a very UK focused situation it does raise a number of questions about the separation of science from politics and the need for evidence based policy.

At the recent Injecting Conference (NCIDU) there was a lot of discussion around peer distribution of equipment and peer led services.

It's clear that engaging networks of injecting drug users to help with self distribuition of equipment is a great way to increase the numbers of sterile equipment available. However for some people (it seemed mainly to be some service managers) the concepts seemed full of problems. Hopefully this article might help with at least one of them.

Every year the Health Protection Agency in the UK carries out an anonymous survey of the behaviours of injecting drug users. This is accompanied by an oral mouth swab that is sent off for testing around a range of injecting related viruses like HepC and HIV.

This years report has just been released (Oct 23rd). This is essential reading for all UK drug workers and injecting drug users, as it allows us to understand the levels of risk encountered and give recommendations on how to combat the situation.

We have another new tool from Harm Reduction Works, a coverage calculator for needle programmes which lets you work out if there are enough fresh needles being distributed in your area.

I was lucky enough to have had access to this for a couple of months before it’s official release.

Hooked episode 19 is a listener questions and feedback show. We've had some great questions in the months that we've been doing the show so we thought it was time we answered some of them.

A wide variety of subjects were discussed from injecting rooms to Nitrous Oxide and even baby swimming floats that go around the neck (really they do exist)