FREE CRACK PIPES PART OF HARM REDUCTION

Dear editor,

I am not surprised that people are voicing their discomfort and
concerns in relation to the distribution of free crack pipes, as I
understand the devastating effects that drug use can have on families
and the community.

However, as a fourth-year nursing student, I am disheartened to read
such disturbing answers for "dealing" with people suffering with drug
addictions.

"Incarcerating people and forcing them into sobriety" is not the
answer to the issues associated with illicit drug use, and it is
certainly not moral. Drug dependence is a medical problem, an illness
that requires treatment, not imprisonment. Incarceration just puts
people into another high-risk environment that can result in
increased drug use, infections, or withdrawal.

Reports documented in the Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics inform
that inadequate treatment of drug withdrawal in jails is common.
People who are dependent on drugs require treatment, such as
detoxification, to avoid the pain and suffering associated with acute
withdrawal. When this is not provided, individuals experience
symptoms such as discomfort, severe pain, nausea, vomiting, fever,
psychosis or even death (2004). This is certainly not humane, nor
does it respect the dignity, autonomy or justice that all individuals
have a right to and deserve.

Although law enforcement is part of the public health strategy to
reducing the harms associated with drug use, "forcing" incarceration
and abstinence does not work.

In fact, there is strong evidence from the Correctional Service
Canada that reports an increase in HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C
infections in Canadian prisons in relation to addictions. Illicit
drug use is widespread and is perpetuated, not reduced, by
correctional policies.

As a result, harm reduction measures are now being recommended in
Canadian jails to reduce the spread of disease (2005).

Understandably, there are a lot of concerns with alternative
approaches to reducing the damaging effects caused by drug use, but
providing free crack pipes does not encourage illegal drug use or
enable individuals.

Harm reduction has proven to result in reduced infections, deaths,
use of shared substance-use equipment, reduced crime rates, and
increased referrals to treatment programs.

Furthermore, distributing supplies such as crack pipe mouthpieces
provides opportunities to health-care workers to engage with
vulnerable populations, offer services, advice and support around
safe practices (BCCDC, 2009).

To help understand the harm reduction philosophy and why it came
about, I recommend reading the BCCDC's Harm Reduction of BC Community
Guide at www.housing.gov.bc.ca/ptf/hrcommunityguide.pdf .

Jayne Fisher,
Courtenay