Pubdate: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2008 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Jim Bronskill, Canadian Press MOUNTIE CRACKS BACK RCMP Brass Speaks Out Against Free Drug Pipes A high-ranking drug cop says handing out crack pipes to addicts could lure more people into using cocaine. Touted by advocates as a way to curb the spread of diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis C, the distribution program will actually make it easier for people to smoke crack, the cop said. "I just don't think it's helping," said RCMP Chief Supt. Derek Ogden, director general for drugs and organized crime. "If you're just experimenting with cocaine and people are handing out crack pipes at will, really I think it sends the wrong message, and could actually encourage the rate of crack cocaine use in the community." Ogden is adding his voice to the hotly debated issue of whether communities such as Ottawa should have a program which provides clean pipes and other drug paraphernalia to users. In recent months, health officials and city leaders have not been able to reach an agreement on the issue. Some have said the program saves lives; others have said the $8,000 spent every year on the program is a waste of taxpayer dollars. "It's a highly successful program and scientifically based," Dr. David Salisbury, the city's chief medical officer of health is on record as saying. "It prevents the transmission of very harmful and very dangerous infectious diseases." Both former police chief Vince Bevan and Mayor Larry O'Brien have spoken out against the program, suggesting it promotes illegal drug use while doing nothing to provide help to addicts. "Giving out loot bags of crack pipe packages to facilitate the use of a tool that can lead people to this lifestyle is not appropriate," O'Brien has said. "It's foolishness." Advocates say distributing clean glass pipes, tiny screens and mouthpieces help halt the transmission of disease. "The reality is, people are injecting drugs whether you, I or the next guy like it or not," said Jack McCarthy, director of the Somerset West Community Health Centre in Ottawa. "If they're going to continue a pattern of use of drugs, then do it in a way that you're going to minimize the spread of infection to themselves and to others. To me it's common sense." Ogden doesn't agree and said he's concerned about the flood of dirty pipes and drug needles being found along city streets and in parks. "We can see that there's just more and more and more crack pipes are out there," he said. "They continue to share the crack pipes. We know it's always going to be that way." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin