COUNCILLOR GEOFF YOUNG HAS DOUBTS ABOUT FREE CRACK PIPES: ‘I don’t believe wider ramifications have been looked at by some studies’

VIHA + CITY OF VICTORIA:

CRACK PIPE PUSHERS

MOST VICTORIA CITY COUNCILLORS VOTE TO SUPPORT

VANCOUVER ISLAND ‘HEALTH’ AUTHORITY 

PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE FREE CRACK PIPE PARAPHERNALIA!

Meanwhile,VIHA medical health officer says:

crack kits haven’t been widely studied…

Dr. Murray Fyfe thus confirms Mr. Young’s reservations

Esquimalt may want nothing to do with them, but Victoria’s impatient to get crack kits flowing.

On Thursday, City Council voted to support the Vancouver Island Health Authority’s push to distribute free crack paraphernalia.

“I’m actually just surprised that they haven’t done it already,” said Councillor Charlayne Thornton-Joe.

In a draft letter to VIHA, Council requested a pilot project to distribute crack kits, including a mouthpiece and push stick.

“It is clear that harm reduction initiatives go a long way to reducing the transmission of communicable disease,” said Council’s letter of support.

Councillor Geoff Young, however, disagreed.

“I don’t believe the wider ramifications have been looked at by some of the studies,” he said.

VIHA medical health officer Dr. Murray Fyfe confirms the benefits of crack kits have not been widely studied.

Research has shown, however, that crack pipes can carry hepatitis C-positive blood, he said.

The plan is to distribute the crack kits through the same agencies distributing needles for injection.

‘CRACK KITS’ WILL INCLUDE MOUTH PIECES AND PUSH STICKS

Instead of handing our complete kits, as they do in Prince George and Toronto, Victoria’s kits will only include a mouth piece and push stick.

The mouth piece – actually rubber tubing from the hardware store – fits over the end of the pipe.

Because crack pipes are often made from broken bottles, pop cans or even twisted car antennas, they can cut or burn mouths, said Fyfe.  When users share pipes, they can spread hepatitis C or other communicable diseases.

The push sticks – actually chop sticks – are used to manipulate the rock cocaine.

They are useful in preventing toxic fumes or finger burns.

Kits would cost taxpayers only pennies apiece and, unlike needles, could be reused by the drug addicts several times, Fyfe added.

In Esquimalt, the kits have proved more contentious at Council.

In late May, Mayor Barb Desjardins said she’d prefer to ban the sale of crack tools from convenience stores rather than distribute them for free.

Esquimalt’s health unit, which would distribute the kits, is too close to a recreation centre, she said.

 

[CCC reprint: Victoria News, 'City backs plan to distribute crack pipe gear,'

Roszan Holmen: rholmen@saanichnews.com

July 15, 2009, pages A1 and A6]

 

CCC