HEALTH UNIT TO DOLE OUT CRACK KITS

Providing sanitary drug supplies will stem the spread of HIV and
hepatitis C, says Vancouver Island Health Authority chief medical
health officer Dr. Lorna Medd.

City councillors listened as Medd gave a presentation on an
initiative that will see local health officials distribute crack kits
to Port Alberni's marginalized drug community.

Medical staff will administer the initiative through the local health
unit, and will begin distributing the kits shortly, Medd said.

Supplying the kits doesn't enable drug users, but rather keeps them
healthy until they can pursue healing options, she said.

"Harm reduction does not promote drug use, I feel confident in
reporting that to you," Medd said. "We are in the business of
distributing safer crack supplies for the purpose of preventing the
spread of diseases."

The kits will consist of a rubber mouthpiece that will fit over a
crack pipe, a push stick to insert the drug and dime-size brass
screens to filter toxic drug byproducts out.

The goals of the initiative are to reduce infectious disease
transmission, and to establish relationships between users and the
health system.

Referring to a chart, Medd said that crack use in the central Island
has gone from five per cent in 1996 to 40-60 per cent now.

As well, 26 Port Alberni drug users participated in a 2008 study that
exam-ined central Island injection drug use.

The study reported that 72 per cent tested positive for hepatitis C
and five per cent for HIV. Thirty eight per cent reported sharing
drug equipment in a one-month period.

There is also an economic case to be made for distributing sanitary
drug kits. "It costs $150,000 to $200,000 to treat an HIV patient," Medd said.

Councillors had mixed reaction to Medd's presentation.

"A lot of people have the theory that you are enabling users to
continue," Coun. Ike Patterson said.

"People who require harm reduction are already engaged in that life,"
Medd said. "And getting clean supplies does prevent the spread of HIV
and hep C."

Coun. Hira Chopra asked about rates of users who seek treatment."With
addiction to crack we have no treatment ---- there is not even a
methadone equivalent," Medd said. "Harm reduction ensures that they
are safe right now with the hope that they'll make changes later."