COUNCILLOR QUESTIONS BENEFIT OF CRACK PIPE DISTRIBUTION

Goal Is Noble, Says Deans, But Program Might Not Be Achieving What It Set
Out To Do

The city has distributed crack pipe paraphernalia to about 300 drug users
since a new program began last week, but public concern has already
convinced Councillor Diane Deans to ask whether the program will do more
harm than good.

"I'm concerned about this program. I'm concerned about the perception, the
public perception," Ms. Deans said yesterday.

The councillor said she has concerns about the distribution program, which
began April 1, and moved a motion yesterday to have the city's health,
recreation and social services committee look at the issue at its April 21
meeting.

Ms. Deans said she decided the committee needs to take a second look at the
issue after Ottawa police Chief Vince Bevan said last week the city's
program will encourage drug use.

The committee approved the program last October as a way for drug users to
take drugs safely without contracting or spreading diseases such as AIDS,
HIV or hepatitis. But since Chief Bevan voiced opposition to that part of
the program that gives drug users free crack pipes, Ms. Deans and
Councillor Rick Chiarelli said they have received numerous phone calls from
concerned constituents.

"I have no doubt that the goal is a noble goal, and so really the question
is, are we achieving what we really want to achieve?" Ms. Deans said
yesterday. "I want to hear from the professionals."

Health professionals and Chief Bevan will be invited to speak on the issue
at the next health, recreation and social services committee meeting to
indicate whether they think the new program enables drug use, rather than
curbing the spread of disease.

That's fine, said Ottawa's medical officer of health, because the science
shows the city's harm reduction program is effective and safe. "We're
confident that we have the evidence on this one, and I'm confident that
basically, science and good policy and cost-effective practices will
prevail in the public debate," Dr. Robert Cushman said. "Certainly a lot of
people come to this on an emotional level and you have to look at the facts
and you have to look at the science."

The drug users who choose to use the city's program represent a small
percentage of crack addicts, said Dr. Cushman. Those who recognize the
risks associated with using drugs, but want to do so safely, will use this
program, and distributing free kits to those users won't exacerbate the
city's drug problem, he said.

He said he welcomes any debate on the subject. It often takes time for
councillors to recognize the benefits in some controversial programs, he said.

"It's just one of these issues where there's ongoing controversy, and
there's battles along the way every time you come up with something new and
innovative."