Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jun 2007
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Miki Hansen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis)

CRACK-USE KITS MAKE US ALL SAFER

Smoking crack is a relatively neglected public health problem in 
Canada. The Vancouver Island Health Authority should be applauded, 
not attacked, for providing access to safer crack-use kits.

People who smoke crack or use drugs by injection are extremely 
vulnerable to the transmission of hepatitis C and B, and if 
injecting, HIV. This is why it is so important to give people access 
to clean needles and/or safer crack use kits, which are often hard to come by.

In addition to decreasing the spread of infectious diseases, crack 
kits can bring previously "hidden" marginalized crack smokers in 
contact with health and social services so they can access the 
resources they need to improve their lives.

Harm-reduction strategies, such as the distribution of these kits, 
help to make the entire community a safer and healthier place.

Miki Hansen,

AIDS Vancouver Island.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman