VICTORIA GIVES THUMBS-UP TO CRACK-PIPE KITS

Esquimalt may want nothing to do with them, but Victoria's impatient
to get the crack kits flowing.

On Thursday, city council voted to support the Vancouver Island
Health Authority's push to distribute free crack paraphernalia.

"I'm actually just surprised that they haven't done it already," said
Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe.

In a draft letter to VIHA, council requested a pilot project to
distribute crack kits, including a mouthpiece and push stick.

"It is clear that harm reduction initiatives go a long way to
reducing the transmission of communicable disease," said council's
letter of support.

Coun. Geoff Young, however, disagreed.

"I don't believe the wider ramifications have been looked at by some
of the studies," he said.

VIHA medical health officer Dr. Murray Fyfe confirms the benefits of
crack kits have not been widely studied. Research has shown, however,
that crack pipes can carry hepatitis C-positive blood, he said.

The plan is to distribute the crack kits through the same agencies
distributing needles for drug injection.

Instead of handing out complete kits, as they do in Prince George and
Toronto, Victoria's kits will only include a mouth piece and push
stick.

The mouth piece -- actually rubber tubing from the hardware store --
fits over the end of the pipe.

Because crack pipes are often made from broken bottles, pop cans or
even twisted car antennas, they can cut or burn mouths, said Fyfe.
When users share pipes, they can spread hepatitis C or other
communicable diseases.

The push sticks -- actually chops sticks -- are used to manipulate
the rock cocaine. They are useful in preventing prevent toxic fumes
or finger burns.

Kits would cost taxpayers only pennies apiece and, unlike needles,
could be reused by the drug addicts several times, Fyfe added.

In Esquimalt, the kits have proved more contentious at council.

In late May, Mayor Barb Desjardin said she'd prefer to ban the sale
of crack tools from convenience stores rather than distribute them
for free.

Esquimalt's health unit, which would distribute the kits, is too
close to a recreation centre, she said.