Pubdate: Thu, 03 Nov 2005
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2005 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Mia Rabson

FREE CRACK PIPES SUBSIDIZE DEALERS: TORY JUSTICE CRITIC

TORY Justice Critic Kelvin Goertzen yesterday accused the government 
of subsidizing drug dealers by handing out free crack pipes to addicts.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has handed out 9,000 kits 
containing clean crack pipes to drug addicts in the city in the last 12 months.

The kits are handed out to known drug addicts by the WRHA's Street 
Connections workers, a mobile unit used to prevent the spread of HIV, 
hepatitis and other diseases.

Each kit costs less than $1, and in addition to the pyrex crack 
pipes, it contains condoms, alcohol swabs, and a card with the Street 
Connections phone number on it.

Crack addicts will generally use whatever kinds of tubes are 
available to smoke the drug, including pens and broken inhalers. The 
problem is these makeshift pipes tend to get extremely hot when the 
crack is being smoked, burning the users' lips and causing open 
wounds. When the pipes are shared between addicts, they run the risk 
of transferring communicable diseases like HIV.

In total, the WRHA has spent just over $7,000 on the kits in the last year.

"It's feeding the addictions of young people," said Goertzen in 
question period.

He also said the money is subsidizing drug dealers' bank accounts by 
giving their clients assistance to do more drugs.

He said all resources for drug programs should be used to help kids 
get off drugs, not help them feed their habits.

Health Minister Tim Sale was upset by Goertzen's accusations and said 
he was out of touch with current philosophies.

"The notion this government is actively promoting the use of drugs is 
a scurrilous suggestion," said Sale.

"If he's suggesting (handing out clean crack pipes) is the wrong 
thing to do he is out of step with virtually every jurisdiction in 
North America."

Winnipeg is not the only city in which crack-pipe kits are handed out 
to addicts. Ottawa, for example, began a similar program this past 
April. A spokesperson for the WRHA said the kits are only distributed 
by workers to people they know are already addicted.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman