Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2007 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Katie Daubs, With files from Jake Rupert Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) COUNCIL KILLS CRACK PIPE PROGRAM Surprise Move Called A Blow For Public Health In Ottawa Council decided yesterday to end the city's controversial crack pipe program -- a move heralded as a great day for tourism, but a sad day for public health. "We just voted to basically kill six to 12 people a year," said Councillor Clive Doucet. He was referring to the estimated number of people who, because of the program, did not contract communicable diseases from sharing infected drug paraphernalia. The program's intent, said chief medical officer Dr. David Salisbury, was not to prevent drug use, but to prevent the spread of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C. Because crack users usually experience cuts to their lips, they can be exposed to infected blood when they share pipes. He said Ottawa faces an epidemic of those diseases, which is only furthered by reusing crack pipes and needles. "If we cannot control the HIV epidemic, it will affect all of us. Whether in the pocketbook, or with the ones we lose," he said. Dr. Salisbury noted the hospital bill for a patient who develops AIDS is $600,000. The crack pipe program cost the city $7,500 a year. After the motion carried, a visibly upset Dr. Salisbury said the city could see a rise in incidences of HIV and Hepatitis C. Councillor Rick Chiarelli, who introduced the surprise motion to end the program, said there was "absolutely no evidence" the program had reduced communicable diseases. But last year, a University of Ottawa study said it radically reduced the sharing of drug paraphernalia, although it increased crack smoking. University of Ottawa epidemiologist Lynne Leonard said despite the increase in crack use, there was "significant scientific evidence" that showed the program reduced the harm associated with crack smoking. Originally, council was supposed to only decide yesterday whether to review the program. Many councillors, including Mr. Chiarelli, didn't see the point in spending $500,000 to review a program that "enables drug use." "It's one of the most ironic, mixed messages a municipal government could send to people," Mr. Chiarelli said. "We spend thousands to arrest them, and then spend thousands to supply them with the paraphernalia." Although police Chief Vern White has opposed the program, he supported a review. Residents of a Sandy Hill neighbourhood who had come to protest the review were jubilant. They said since the city had introduced the program, crack use has increased significantly in their neighbourhood. Police inspector Lance Valcour, who has walked the beat along Rideau Street and through Sandy Hill for 30 years, said crack cocaine is like the cheap sherry of days gone by. "If you have $3 to spend and you can get a tall boy (beer) for $3.80 and a piece of crack for $3, what are you going to do?" Earlier, the group of about 25 residents marched to City Hall with bags of used crack pipes they'd picked up on their front lawns. They clashed with a small group from the AIDS Committee of Ottawa who yelled "Crack kits save lives." As a shouting match ensued, Mayor Larry O'Brien arrived, and stood with used crack pipes sprinkled at his feet. He had to ask his staff for protection from the boisterous protesters. "We need treatment centres," he told the group. "The last thing we need to do is serve the drugs. This has got to end." In last year's election campaign, Mr. O'Brien opposed the program. After the motion passed, he said he would be on the phone to the Province of Ontario to talk about a 48-bed treatment centre for Ottawa. Currently, the closest centre is in Thunder Bay. In a press release, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network called the decision to cancel the program "irresponsible" and "shortsighted." The group from Sandy Hill stood on the sidelines and applauded the mayor. They saw things differently. "It's a great day for Ottawa," said member Sabina Sauter. "It's a great day for tourism." - - - - How They Voted Kill the program: Shad Qadri, Stittsville-Kanata West; Eli El-Chantiry, West Carleton-March; Bob Monette, Orleans; Christine Leadman, Kitchissippi; Marianne Wilkinson, Kanata North; Rick Chiarelli, College; Maria McRae, River; Glenn Brooks, Rideau-Goulbourn; Rainer Bloess, Innes; Gord Hunter, Knoxdale-Merivale; Steve Desroches,Gloucester-South Nepean; Doug Thompson, Osgoode; Rob Jellett, Cumberland; Jan Harder, Barrhaven; Mayor Larry O'Brien. Save the program: Diane Holmes, Somerset. Clive Doucet, Capital; Michel Bellemare, Beacon Hill-Cyrville; Peter Hume, Alta Vista; Jacque Legendre, Rideau-Rockcliffe; Diane Deans, Gloucester-Southgate; Peggy Feltmate, Kanata South. Absent: Alex Cullen, Bay; Georges Bedard, Rideau-Vanier. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom