Safe crack-kit program causes stir – Nova Scotia
Controversy about giving free crack pipes to addicts is similar to the debate that arose when needle exchange programs started 20 years ago, says an addict outreach worker."It's just another form of harm reduction," says Diane Bailey, program director for the Mainline Needle Exchange. Ms. Bailey has worked with the Halifax organization since it opened in north-end Halifax in 1992.Needle exchange programs keep addicts who inject drugs from sharing dirty needles and spreading diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.
"We're a health promotion project," said Ms. Bailey.
Now Mainline is trying to make inroads in the crack-using community. Crack users tend to be younger than traditional Mainline clients, who have been between 35 and 75, Ms. Bailey said. They lead erratic lifestyles, and many suffer from paranoia, she said. The safe-crack kits contain a glass pipe stem, a rubber mouthpiece and a screen to hold the burning crack. Crack users often have dry, cracked lips, blisters or mouth sores. Sharing a pipe, like sharing a dirty needle, can spread disease, Ms. Bailey said.
Deputy Police Chief Chris McNeil has expressed surprise in hearing about the crack kits and concern that Mainline may be promoting use of the drug, which is often linked to violent crime. The potential harm caused by sharing dirty crack pipes is not the same as with injecting needles, said the deputy chief. "There's a substantial difference in the harm," Deputy Chief McNeil said in a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon. "There is no safe way to use crack."
He asked whether society should put money into prolonging crack use or whether "we should simply be taking that public money and putting it into treatment (programs) to get these people off crack, to get them off the streets and to reduce the violent activities that they are engaged in." "If this was a comprehensive program to get them off drugs, I'd think about that," he said. "This program sustains dangerous drug abuse."
Early this spring, there were 40 robberies in the metro area, and of the 10 people charged in them, seven are drug addicts, Deputy Chief McNeil said.
Ms. Bailey acknowledges the connection between drugs and crime but emphasized that her program does not encourage anyone to use drugs. Mainline also works with Stepping Stone, an advocacy group that offers support to women and men involved in the sex trade.
"We fully support Mainline in giving out the crack kits, and we are hoping to find it in our budget to do the same," said Dawn Archambault, executive director of Stepping Stone. Coun. Steve Streatch said he recognizes that organizations like Stepping Stone do some good work.
"But they should concentrate on education and on helping these young people off the crack and the very heavy drugs, not almost making it easier for them to continue their use," he said. Mr. Streatch said that as a father of five, he would feel hypocritical preaching to his children about the evils of crack cocaine "while their provincial government is propping up this kind of activity."
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