Give crack pipes to addicts: Public Health
http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...-public-health
Hamilton is poised to hand out free crack pipes to drug addicts in the name of infection control.
The proposed “inhalation kits” would be distributed along with syringes already handed out through the city’s nearly 20-year-old needle-exchange program, said a report to the board of health Monday.
The program is designed to stop drug users from sharing crack pipes, or at least cut the risk when they do share, said Dr. Julie Emili, an associate city medical officer of health.
Emili told councillors drug smokers often end up with cracked and bloody lips, which means sharing a pipe can also pass along such deadly diseases as HIV, Hepatitis C and tuberculosis.
Emili said police have told public health officials the use of crack pipes is a “significant, growing issue” in Hamilton, particularly in the core.
She said the department should be able to buy and distribute the $2 kits without adding to its overall “harm-reduction” budget.
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