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." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman