SAFE CRACK KITS FACE CHALLENGES IN USE: STUDY

Distribution, Police Cited by Addicts

Victoria crack cocaine users have been frustrated by police
deliberately smashing their pipes, which in many cases have been
provided by local health officials, says a recently published study
by addictions researchers.

Even though the risk of spread of disease such as hepatitis C through
shared pipes has not been proven, crack addicts feel safe from
disease when they are provided with safe smoking supplies, says the study.

They also don't get into as many violent physical confrontations
about sharing pipes if they have their own, say the researchers,
whose findings are based on interviews with addicts and have been
published online in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

"It really bugs me when the cops sit there and they smash your pipes.
They crush them on the sidewalk. It's stupid. Why would you go and
crush the pipes when . . . it's supposed to be for us to be safer,"
the study quoted one addict.

The study is an indicator that there are some factors working against
the effective distribution of safer crack smoking kits, said Simon
Fraser University professor Benedikt Fischer, one of the paper's researchers.

Police confiscating and smashing pipes has been one reported problem.

Victoria Const. Mike Russell said there is no police policy to either
confiscate or destroy crack pipes, adding it doesn't commonly happen now.

He said harm-reduction initiatives can leave police in uncertain territory.

"The problem is we get mixed messages. It's: 'Arrest people with
drugs but treat it as a health problem,' " Russell said.

AIDS Vancouver Island, which distributes safe crack smoking supplies,
views Victoria police as "essential partners" in delivery of
harm-reduction services, said spokeswoman Andrea Langlois.

"Even though this study does point to some challenges, this study was
conducted a year ago. ... We've been working with the police
continually to improve awareness and knowledge."

Victoria Coun. Philippe Lucas said he would be "saddened" if police
were still confiscating and smashing crack pipes.

He is frustrated that he hasn't been able to persuade the Victoria
Police Board to adopt a resolution endorsing harm reduction.

"We've had to put that resolution before the police board twice and
we've simply never gotten a response from them," he said.

The researchers gathered 31 crack cocaine addicts last year and paid
them each an "honorarium" of $20 to answer questions about their drug use.

Just under half of the participants complained of having their pipes
confiscated or smashed by police.

Another problem was difficulty in accessing the supplies due to
limited distribution times, distribution in areas where users are not
permitted to go due to red zones, and no-go areas where health
officials are not allowed to distribute.

Some of those issues could be addressed with a fixed needle exchange
site, researchers say. Fischer said the absence of a fixed site
"undermines accessibility of services."

The study says expanding safe crack use kit distribution in Victoria
- - ensuring all kits include pipes, not just rubber mouth pieces -
would be simple and relatively inexpensive.

Local social service agencies have been handing out the kits in
Greater Victoria since about 2007.