Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jan 2012
Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Vancouver Courier
Contact:  http://www.vancourier.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474
Page: A9
Author: Mark Hasiuk

GRAND CRACK PIPE GIVEAWAY DRAPES DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE

VCH spends $60,000 on 60,000 pipes

In the Downtown Eastside, crack cocaine is king. As the 
neighbourhood's most popular drug, it's used solely or with other 
drugs such as heroin or methadone. It's a symptom and cause of 
widespread misery.

All along Hasting Street, a gauntlet of crack dealers flog their 
wares. "Rock." "Base." "Best rock right here." According to locals, 
quality varies depending on the dealer and the price. A typical crack 
"rock" sells for $10. "But most of it's shit," said Allan Diplock, a 
short, fidgety 42-year-old with thick bifocals whom I met last Friday 
morning. Standing on a rain-soaked East Hastings street corner, 
Diplock represents the target demographic for the provincial 
government's latest harm reduction experiment in the Downtown Eastside.

Beginning last month, for at least the next eight months, Vancouver 
Coastal Health, through proxy locations around the neighbourhood, 
will give away crack pipe kits to anyone no matter their age or state 
of addiction. According to theory, fresh pipes limit the spread of 
disease such as hepatitis C. Give an addict a new pipe, they say, and 
you'll decrease infection rates. The project will cost $60,000 and 
include 60,000 pipes. Despite sections 462.1 and 462.2 of the 
Criminal Code, which prohibit the promotion of "instruments or 
literature for illicit drug use," it's the grandest crack pipe 
giveaway in Canadian history.

Last Friday, I visited three crack pipe distributors in the Downtown 
Eastside. First stop: the Lookout Downtown Hazelton Residence, a 
squat brick building on Alexander Street where Sarah, a smiley young 
redhead, stood behind the front counter.

"Can I have a crack pipe, please?"

"Sure," said Sarah, reaching into a plastic bin full of crack pipe 
kits. Each kit, packed in a Ziploc bag, includes a four-inch 
cylindrical glass pipe, 10 metal pipe screens, two plastic 
mouthpieces, eight alcohol swabs, two skinny wooden push sticks and a 
how-to manual boasting the VCH slogan "Promoting wellness. Ensuring 
care" alongside a 1-866 detox hotline. Although I never asked for 
extras, Sarah gave me two pipes and bade me farewell.

Next stop, 380 East Hastings, headquarters of the Vancouver Area 
Network of Drug Users. A busy place with a constant stream of people 
flowing through VANDU's brick archway. Behind another front counter, 
Marlene, a First Nations women with a black ponytail and leather 
jacket, smiled at me.

"Can I have a crack pipe, please?"

"No problem."

Before leaving, I asked Marlene about drug treatment options. She 
referred me to her colleague-a tall, bearded thirtysomething in an 
L.A. Dodgers hat. "We're not expert on that," he said. "Our 
suggestion is to go to Insite." (Incidental footnote: During a letter 
to the Courier last September, Patricia Daly, VCH's chief medical 
health officer, said "health care providers" who are "professionals" 
would distribute crack pipes. Marlene and the L.A. Dodger may be 
nice, but they're not health care professionals.)

Outside on the sidewalk, Jennifer Gravelle, who also received a kit 
from Marlene, inspected her pipe. Now 30 years old, Gravelle's smoked 
crack for 10 years. The rain flattened her brown hair and left two 
circles of pink blush on each cheekbone. "I think it's awesome," she 
said, noting the many pipes she's received from VANDU over the past 
few weeks. "People sharing crack pipes is not a good idea." But has 
anyone from VANDU asked about your situation or recommended treatment 
options? "Nope. Never."

Last stop. The Washington Needle Depot at Main and Hastings. To find 
the depot, walk west on Hastings from Main Street, take your first 
left into an alley and enter the second door (slightly ajar) to meet 
Lawrence, a grey-haired deadringer of late comedian George Carlin.

"Can I have two crack pipes, please?"

"OK. But you can't come back today."

Lawrence didn't want me "back today" because crack pipes sell on the 
black market, although the market impact of government pipes remains 
unknown. However, back on the street: "I don't like it," said Allan 
Diplock while wiping raindrops off his bifocals. "Why buy a pipe on 
the street if you can get one for free?" To subsidize his crack 
habit, Diplock sells pipes on Hastings for a buck a piece. I showed 
him my five-pipe stash. He shook his head and smiled. "That's what 
I'm talking about. It doesn't make sense."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart