CRACK PROGRAM CUT DISEASE: STUDY

But Free Paraphernalia Also Increased Drug Use, AIDS Conference Told

TORONTO - The City of Ottawa's controversial distribution of free
drug paraphernalia to crack smokers is improving drug users'
dangerous habits and preventing the spread of disease, says a new
study released to the International AIDS Conference here yesterday.

The University of Ottawa study, funded by federal, provincial and
city governments, says the crack-user program is radically reducing
the sharing of drug paraphernalia, which is the main cause of
disease, but is also increasing the amount of crack smoking.

"We definitely saw an increase in crack smoking," said University of
Ottawa epidemiologist Lynne Leonard, "and it looked like a negative
outcome of the program. We were rigorous and looking for negative and
positive outcomes. But what we also saw was a huge, significant
decrease in the use of injected drugs, which is far more risky than smoking."

The study results were released two days after Ottawa mayoral
candidate Terry Kilrea said he'd scrap the city's needle-exchange and
crack-pipe-equipment programs, as well as pesticide-education
programs, in order to spend an additional $1 million on treatment programs.

Mr. Kilrea said the city shouldn't be enabling drug use by
distributing needles and drug paraphernalia to addicts.

The city estimates between 3,300 and 5,000 injection drug users live
in Ottawa and about 80 per cent of them are crack cocaine smokers.
Between 75 and 80 per cent of injection drug users have hepatitis C
and about 20 per cent are HIV-positive. Crack is a highly addictive
stimulant and costs a quarter of regular cocaine.

The city program started in April 2005 despite huge opposition from
some members of city council and from police Chief Vince Bevan.

Chief Bevan said at the time that the program would encourage drug
use: "I am concerned that the message we are sending is that there's
a safer way to do crack, that it's OK to try crack," he said shortly
before the majority of council gave the program the go-ahead. "There
is no hard evidence, no empirical studies that support the
distribution of crack pipes."

Despite the increase in crack use, Ms. Leonard yesterday said there
is now "significant scientific evidence" that shows the program is
important in reducing the harms associated with crack smoking.

"It can be easily administered," said Ms. Leonard, who is the
director of an HIV prevention research team. "If you provide it,
people will come and take advantage of it. Once you've got those
people you can work with them to further reduce harm."

The Ottawa program, unique in North America, provides crack users
with a package that includes pipe stems, rubber mouth pieces and
brass screens to prevent burns. The kits, which cost $2, but are free
to addicts, also include condoms, lip balm, chewing gum, a
pipe-disposal mechanism and information on drug use and prevention.

In its first year, the program has provided tens of thousands of
pieces of smoking paraphernalia, including about 52,000 glass stems,
to addicts.

Typically, crack smokers using the hot pipes develop open sores, cuts
and blisters on their lips and when they share bloody smoking
equipment they also run a high risk of sharing blood-borne disease.
Studies also show crack smokers contract HIV and Hep C through oral sex.

Before the city program began, more than a third of the addicts who
took part in the study said they used shared equipment every time
they smoke crack. By April, when the study ended, 13 per cent said
they continued to share.