CRACK PIPE DECISION ABOUT HEALTH: MAYOR

Mayor Bob Chiarelli says he has heard the debate and supports the
city's free crack pipe kit program. "It was a debate that we had to
have and we heard very extensive assessment on both sides and at the
end of the day, I come back to the health issue and support the
decision that was taken," said Chiarelli.

Chiarelli said the information leads him to believe the program is
legal and should be operating.

"It's very clearly a health issue. We are preventing not only the
addicts from becoming seriously ill ... we're also protecting innocent
people who could become ill because of it," he said.

"If we can prevent one or two or three innocent people from
contracting life-threatening diseases, then it is worth the
investment," he said.

Chiarelli's comments came a day after the city's health, recreation
and social services committee ruled the program should continue. But
even with the decision, one of the agencies handing out the pipe kits
has temporarily ceased distribution.

WIDER DRUG STRATEGY

Kim Chadsey of Operation Go Home said the youth outreach
organization's board of directors will consider the issue on May 2.

The debate had featured a battle between the city's medical officer of
health, Dr. Robert Cushman, and police chief Vince Bevan, who was
sticking to his position yesterday.

The chief said he was concerned that children younger than 16 have
used the needle-exchange program and the crack pipe program and
believes the city needs to work on a wider drug strategy that focuses
on prevention and treatment.

"To that end, I will write to the provincial government of Ontario to
encourage them to adopt legislation similar to Bill 202 from Alberta,"
he said.

"The bill will ensure that a number of measures will be in place to
address drug users under the age of 18 years, including the power to
have a judge issue Apprehension Orders for a youth to be taken to a
designated place of safety for substance abuse intervention."