Pubdate: Fri, 03 Jun 2005 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Glenn Bohn Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) SMOKING ROOM URGED FOR COCAINE USERS Safe Space Would Stop Pipe Sharing, Offset Risk Of Spreading Hepatitis C, Doctor Says VANCOUVER - Female sex-trade workers in Vancouver who smoke crack cocaine, heroin and other hard drugs are the addicts most likely to smoke those drugs in a government-sanctioned and medically-supervised facility, according to a new study. Researchers with the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV-AIDS found that 28 per cent of 443 drug users surveyed were willing to use a "supervised smoking facility" like InSite, the "supervised injection site" that now exists near Main and Hastings for injection drug users. The percentage was much higher -- 42 per cent -- for female prostitutes who smoke hard drugs. Dr. Thomas Kerr, one of the authors of a study published in the New York-based Journal of Urban Health, says that's an important finding, because those women are most at risk for contracting potentially deadly, blood-borne diseases like hepatitis C and HIV. "Crack smokers frequently share crack pipes, although they tend to have a lot of mouth sores," Kerr said Thursday during an interview. "By creating a space where people can consume their drugs safely, there's a potential to offset some of those risks." Kerr said other studies have shown that sex trade workers -- especially street-based drug users -- are some of the most difficult drug users to reach. He said a supervised smoking facility could reduce disease transmission and provide a place where those drug users could get primary medical care and get referred to other services, such as addiction counselling. Crack cocaine, also called "rock," is a highly-addictive form of cocaine that comes in a rock crystal sold in $5 crumbs that make it a cheap high. The crystal is heated and its vapours inhaled. According to the study, crack smokers often have oral lesions such as blisters, sores and cuts on their lips and inside their mouths. The open sores are caused by the hot glass and metal pipe stems used to smoke crack. Kerr said evidence suggests that hepatitis C, a very robust virus, is transmitted when hepatitis-infected addicts share pipes. The InSite facility in Vancouver is North America's first so-called safe injection site. The street-level facility gives injection drug users access to clean spoons, tourniquets and water, which in turn reduces the spread of AIDS and other diseases. People aren't allowed to smoke crack, heroin, amphetamines or other inhalants at InSite. Vancouver has no equivalent facility for people who smoke crack. The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority estimates there are 4,700 drug addicts in the area, but Kerr has said that figure does not include thousands of crack cocaine users. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom