CRACK-PIPE PROGRAM TO TRACK USERS

Five local harm reduction centres have begun distributing crack pipes
as part of a Vancouver Coastal Health pilot program announced in
August.

About 3,000 kits, consisting of a pipe, filter screens, alcohol swabs,
mouth pieces and push sticks, are being assembled each month by the
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users. The packages are then
distributed to partner agencies.

The kits are part of a harm-reduction strategy sponsored by VCH aimed
at reducing the spread of disease among inhalation drug users.

VANDU's Hugh Lampkin said an average of 90 users a day have been
taking advantage of the service at his 380 E. Hastings St. location.
In total, the eight-month pilot will distribute 60,000 kits throughout
2012.

VCH medical officer Patricia Daly said partner agencies, including
VANDU, Washington Needle Depot, Lookout Society, Drug and Alcohol
Meeting Support for Women and Portland Hotel Society - which runs
InSite - have agreed to report back on user demographics to evaluate
the pilot's usefulness.

"This is a group of drug users where we hadn't looked at their needs
before," she said. "We're trying to determine the number of (crack
cocaine) users in the Downtown Eastside, what their experiences are
with the pipes, whether they're sharing and whether that could lead to
disease transmission."

Lampkin said preliminary data shows the average user's age is 35, with
the majority being male. About three-quarters are regular DTES
residents.

He added users are allowed one pipe a day, and are allowed to
repeatedly receive pipes, citing frequent cases where pipes are broken
or are confiscated by police.

Kits will also include a card with phone numbers for detox programs.

Meanwhile, a Centre for Addictions Research of B.C. report released in
November found pipe sharing had decreased in Vancouver to 52% of users
this year compared to 61% in 2010.

According to the B.C. Coroners Service, crack and cocaine were
identified as the primary drugs present in 105 deaths between 2009 and
2010.