Pubdate: Wed, 04 Jan 2012
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476

CRACK-PIPE SOLUTION MISSES BIG QUESTION

When it comes to giving drug addicts taxpayer-funded services, 
there's a fine line between providing them with health care and 
enabling them to continue their destructive and unhealthy lifestyle.

Many Province readers clearly feel that the Vancouver Coastal Health 
Authority has crossed that line with its decision to hand out free 
crack pipes in the Downtown Eastside.

As Province reporter Cassidy Olivier has noted, it's part of a trial 
program to reduce injuries to addicts' lips and mouths that can make 
them more susceptible to Hepatitis B and C and even HIV.

The pipes will be included in 60,000 drug kits that are expected to 
be distributed over eight months. The health authority says this will 
help steer the crack smokers toward detox services.

Let's hope it does. Crack cocaine is a scourge on society and a major 
cause of crime and other human misery.

However, we're inclined to agree with the Drug Prevention Network of 
Canada, a national anti-drug group, that the public authority should 
focus much less on "harm reduction" and far more on drug treatment 
and prevention.

This, of course, is not a clear-cut issue. And we sympathize fully 
with health professionals who are anxious to save lives and curb the 
spread of disease in the notorious skid-row district.

Our view, though, is that one of the reasons why the Downtown 
Eastside has such deep-seated social problems is that 
well-intentioned but naive community leaders have not only allowed 
drug use to flourish, but even encouraged it.

Indeed, some go so far as to argue that our tolerant attitude toward 
drugs is one reason why Vancouver is such a great city.

But if it's so great, why do so many people seem to need to use them? 
That's the question we should all be asking.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D