Pubdate: Wed, 27 May 2009
Source: Victoria News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wOQxPi2c
Website: http://www.vicnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1267
Author: Rebecca Aldous
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/vics.htm (Lucas, Philippe)

VIHA SEEKS CITY SUPPORT FOR CRACK KIT PROGRAM

Vancouver Island Health Authority is looking for community support to
distribute free crack kits.

In 2007, the health authority was pressured by Nanaimo council and
former mayor Gary Korpan to halt distribution of free crack pipes in
the city's downtown. Since then, the authority commited to consult all
Island communities before proceeding with its harm reduction program.

Now in the midst of meeting with Victoria and Esquimalt, VIHA hopes to
get the municipalities on side and get the ball rolling.

"In a perfect world we would like to work with councils," VIHA
spokesperson Suzanne Germain said.

"We don't want to go ramming it down people's throats, but if there is
a huge need we would do it from a public health point of view."

Although VIHA seeks backing, it doesn't need to. If medical officials
deem the issue a significant public health risk, provincial
legislation would support VIHA going ahead with the program.

Esquimalt Mayor Barbara Desjardins opposes the plan, noting that the
Esquimalt Health Unit - one facility that could hand out the kits - is
directly across from the recreation and youth centre.

Having children and drug users picking up equipment in the same area
is unacceptable, she said.

"The community has told me they don't want it."

Instead, Desjardins is focusing on blocking sales by convenience store
of items which could be used to make crack pipes.

Victoria Coun. Philippe Lucas said scientific evidence shows the crack
kits are needed to help stop the spread of diseases such as Hepatitis
C.

Lucas contracted Hep C in 1982 through tainted blood in Ontario's
medical system. Living with the disease is not easy and is a constant
worry for his wife, he said. If there is anything the city can do to
stop its spread, it should be welcomed, he added.

"It is a win-win situation for us to do it and move ahead," he
said.

Lucas noted that not only would it fight the spread of disease, but
VIHA would pay for the program.

In Victoria, one in seven injection drug users has Hep C, AIDS
Vancouver Island spokesperson Andrea Langlois said.

Although there are no statistics on how many crack users have Hep C,
VIHA reports that 70 per cent of addicts use crack cocaine.

Crack cocaine users are a very marginalized group that are less likely
to access health and support services, Langlois noted. The AIDS
organization hands out a small number of crack pipes and often that is
the only contact crack users make with health workers, she said.

"What we have heard recently in Victoria is the lack of accessibility
of crack pipes leads to tensions in the street community."

Such tension can result in violence, she added.

Over a lifetime, one case of Hep C costs the health care system
between $125,000 to $250,000, noted Germain.

Victoria council will be presented with the issue on June 4 during
committee of the whole. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake