Pubdate: Wed, 01 Aug 2007
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Megan Gillis

PIPING UP FOR ADDICTS

Coalition Finds Cash For Axed Program

A coalition of 10 community organizations announced yesterday they'll 
dig into their own pockets to keep the city's cancelled crack pipe 
program going -- despite threats of funding cuts.

"This is something we cannot ignore," said Dr. Dona Bowers of the 
Somerset West Community Health Centre. "This is a public health issue."

Crack is a big problem in Ottawa, she said. One-fifth of drug users 
have HIV and three-quarters have hepatitis C.

Public health agencies around the world -- and 11 Canadian cities -- 
are handing out pipes to protect crack smokers and their neighbours.

"It's also targeted at keeping our community safe," Bowers said. "We 
don't want that potentially infected paraphernalia to be found in our 
parks and playgrounds. This program includes safe disposal to keep 
our communities safe."

The AIDS Committee of Ottawa, five community health centres, Centre 
507, the Youth Services Bureau, the Elizabeth Fry Society and the 
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health will spend $15,000 to run the 
program until the end of the year when they hope long-term funding 
will be in place.

Advocates sidestepped questions about the politics behind the 
surprise vote and threats made by some councillors to cancel funding 
to agencies that continue to hand out crack pipes.

"We have a good relationship with the City of Ottawa," said Jack 
McCarthy, executive director of the Somerset West Community Health 
Centre. "We're confident that will continue."

But Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Jacques Legendre hopes critics will think 
twice before punishing agencies that do so much good.

Critics are focusing on the perception clean pipes encourage crack 
use when the public health measure was only a fraction of the city's 
drug strategy, he said.

'Complex' Message

"Harm reduction is not just harm reduction to the users -- it's also 
harm reduction to the community," he said.

"For some reason, that message has not gotten through. That message 
isn't understood because it's complex. People would like the problem 
to disappear. That ain't gonna happen. There's no magic wand here."

Recovered cocaine addict Mika Convoy credits the needle exchange 
program -- which the city continues to run -- for keeping her 
healthy, then helping her find treatment when she was ready. Crack 
smokers deserve the same chance.

"I strongly believe it saved my life," she said. "It spared me from 
getting HIV and other diseases and it gave me contact with outreach 
workers. When you're out there, lost in a world of addiction and 
despair, there aren't a lot of friendly people out there.

"It's so important to have a safe place to go."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman