DRUG USERS FACE HIV CRISIS: GROUP

Homeless crack users are contracting HIV at almost twice the rate of
intravenous drug users, and activists are calling on the province to
declare a state of emergency.

"We are trying to ask for a state of emergency to be declared based on the
outrageous and frightening levels of statistics we have," said Cheryl
White, of the Illicit Drug Users Union of Toronto.

The plea comes in the wake of a survey of 253 homeless crack users in
downtown Toronto that showed 13% were living with HIV and 41% had Hepatitis C.

The current rate of HIV infection among IV drug users is 7%, White said.

The study was conducted by the IDUUT, a group of drug activists who support
the distribution of clean crack pipes and the legalization of illicit drugs.