PIPES TAKE CRACK AT HIV

In an effort to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in Ottawa, researchers and
health professionals are taking a hands-on approach to minimize the
impact of crack cocaine use.

In 2008, the Safer Inhalation Program was launched at the Somerset
West Community Health Centre with the intention to put an end to risky
drug use.

Their goal was clear; if crack cocaine users are provided with clean
pipes, the spread of HIV and hepatitis C would decline.

After the initiative was in place, Dr. Lynne Leonard, research
scientist and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa,
examined the factors that contributed to the high levels of infection
among drug users in Ottawa.

She discovered that when clean pipes are not available, drug users
would turn to makeshift pipes like pop cans, lightbulbs, and pill
bottles.

"What happens is as the rock of crack is heated and inhaled if there's
no protection on the mouth these devices create cracks and blisters
and sores and if somebody is HIV positive or Hepatitis C positive the
virus is going to be on those injuries, in the blood, and if they've
just smoked a pipe and handed it to someone else and that person also
has sores, that's how HIV enters the body," said Dr. Leonard.

Her study also revealed that when clean pipes were available, drug
users were less inclined to share.

"We saw that by (putting) an increase of pipes into circulation (there
were) much better smoking practices. People were not using these
devices which are associated with HIV and hepatitis circulation," she
said.

For a complete list of Dr. Leonard's recommendations, visit uottawa.ca