Pubdate: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS) Copyright: 2008 The Halifax Herald Limited Contact: http://thechronicleherald.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180 RCMP - CRACK PIPE GIVEAWAYS DON'T FIGHT DRUG PROBLEM OTTAWA - Distributing crack pipes to addicts in Canadian cities to halt the spread of disease is actually doing more harm than good by tacitly encouraging substance abuse, says a senior RCMP officer fighting the illicit drug trade. "I just don't think it's helping," said Chief Supt. Derek Ogden, director general for drugs and organized crime with the Mounties. "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," he said in an interview. Ogden's comments add fresh fuel to the raging debate over the best means of controlling the hard drug problem plaguing downtown streets. Cities across the country are grappling with the safety and health issues associated with strung-out junkies, dirty pipes and needles, and the spread of hepatitis C and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Advocates say distributing clean glass pipes, tiny screens and mouthpieces helps 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. McCarthy stresses a four-pillared approach to tackling illicit drug use: enforcement, harm reduction, treatment and prevention. Without sanitary paraphernalia, he said, addicts use more dangerous implements such as needles to inject the drugs or pieces of metal pop cans to heat up crack and inhale it, then pass on pathogens through sharing the makeshift pipes. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek