Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jul 2007
Source: Metro (Ottawa, CN ON)
Page: 1
Copyright: 2007 Metro
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/home.aspx?city=ottawa
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4032
Author: Chris Gillcash
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

PIPE PLAN SCRAPPED

Council Votes Down Controversial Program

The city's controversial crack pipe program is up in smoke after 
being scrapped by council.

Council voted 15-7 yesterday to drop a program that critics say 
promotes illegal drug use, despite an appeal by Ottawa's chief 
medical officer to retain a plan that proponents claim reduces the 
spread of disease among addicts.

"It's about reducing disease and it's effective," said chief medical 
officer Dr. David Salisbury. "It would be a regressive step if we 
were to cancel it."

But opponents argued that handing out crack pipes sends the wrong 
message to the community.

"I say giving out loot bags to facilitate drug use is not harm 
reduction," said Mayor Larry O'Brien, who backed a motion by Coun. 
Rick Chiarelli to kill the more than two-year-old program.

Calling the crack pipe program "foolishness," O'Brien said he wants 
Ottawa to focus on enforcement and education while building better 
rehabilitation facilities. One recommendation approved by council is 
to move forward with a 48-bed residential youth treatment facility.

"I'll be talking to the province about getting some funding for the 
treatment facility," said O'Brien.

Supporters of the program, which costs about $8,200 annually to 
administer, believe providing clean pipes and other drug 
paraphernalia to addicts stems infectious diseases, such as HIV and 
hepatitis C. The program was part of an overall harm-reduction 
strategy that includes a provincially mandated needle exchange program.

Diane Holmes, one of seven dissenting councillors, believes council 
made a political decision that ignores the program's health benefits.

"HIV is a killing disease and the exposure will go up if we don't 
provide clean paraphernalia," she said.

Activists quickly condemned the decision, framing the provision of 
crack kits to addicts as an issue of public health and human rights.

"The perception that this program somehow condoned or encouraged drug 
use is completely false," said Richard Elliott, deputy director of 
the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network. "When the city started this 
program, it was aiming to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. 
Today's decision is a huge step backwards."

But Chiarelli said the city had been sending the message that it 
tacitly condones drug use. And he rejected arguments the program 
reduced the risks of disease, suggesting clean pipes are passed among 
users after their initial use.

"This doesn't pass the laugh test," Chiarelli said, adding the rest 
of the city's drug strategy is effective and will provide treatment options.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom