Pubdate: Sun, 06 Oct 2002
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Keith Bradford
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

FREE CRACK PIPES?

Edmonton's medical officer of health says he is "not opposed" to a 
controversial scheme which supplies free crack pipes to cocaine addicts.

The project is being piloted through needle exchange programs in Ontario 
and B.C. with the aim of reducing the transmission of hepatitis C, 
tuberculosis and HIV among drug users.

Capital Health's Dr. Gerry Predy says he would want to discuss the idea 
with the city's Streetworks program if there were any moves to bring it to 
Edmonton.

But Dr. Stan Houston, who is on the governing council of the Streetworks 
needle exchange program, says funding would likely be an issue. "The 
concept is a harm reduction model which is consistent with what Streetworks 
is all about. But most of our Streetworks council meetings are devoted to 
how we can get money for the program to survive at all, much less taking on 
initiatives that are new."

Edmonton Mayor Bill Smith, who has previously backed the idea of safe 
injection sites, said he is not supportive of the idea of giving out crack 
pipes to addicts.

"I will keep an open mind on it but my first reaction is that I'm not in 
favour," he said.

Toronto's Safer Crack Use Coalition, an alliance of agencies, activists, 
front-line workers and crack users, has handed out thousands of packages 
containing non-toxic glass crack pipes for "safer crack use." They believe 
burns and cuts from shared crack pipes addicts make out of aluminium cans, 
plastic bottles and inhalers are a prime route for the transmission of 
hepatitis C and HIV.

A similar scheme is also being pioneered in rural B.C., through a 
government-funded needle exchange program.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Tom