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Council
Kills Crack Pipe Program |
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On Wednesday, the Ottawa
City Council was expected to review a controversial crack pipe distribution
program. Instead, it voted to end the outreach entirely.
Because crack pipe users can experience cuts to their lips, pipe-sharing
among users can transmit blood-borne infections such as
HIV and
hepatitis C.
Ottawa has an epidemic of those diseases, said Chief Medical Officer Dr.
David Salisbury, and shared crack pipes and needles lead to more infections.
"If we cannot control the HIV epidemic, it will affect us all. Whether in
the pocketbook, or with the ones we lose," he said. Salisbury compared the
program's annual $7,500 Canadian ($7,162 US) cost to the $600,000 ($573,000
US) average hospitalization cost per AIDS patient.
Councilor Rick Chiarelli, who introduced the motion to end the program, said
there is "absolutely no evidence" the program reduces communicable diseases.
Last year, a University of Ottawa study said the crack pipe program reduced
pipe sharing but increased crack smoking. It cited, however, "significant
scientific evidence" showing the program reduced crack smoking-related harm.
About 25 residents of a Sandy Hill neighborhood, who blame increased local
crack use on the program, were delighted with the council's vote. "If you
have $3 to spend and you can get a tall boy [beer] for $3.80 and a piece of
crack for $3, what are you going to do?" asked Lance Valcour, a police
inspector whose beat has included Sandy Hill for 30 years.
Salisbury was disappointed by the vote, as was the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal
Network. "We have just voted to basically kill six to 12 people a year,"
said Councilor Clive Doucet.
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Ottawa Citizen
(07.12.07):: Katie Daubs; Jake Rupert |
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We are providing the above information as a public
service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay
media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases
does not constitute endorsement. The above summaries were prepared
without conducting any additional research or investigation into the
facts and statements made in the articles being summarized, and
therefore readers are expressly cautioned against relying on the
validity or invalidity of any statements made in these summaries. This
CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News
Update also includes information from CDC and
other government agencies, such as background on MMWR articles, fact
sheets and announcements. |
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