PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE...

Health Chief Trumps Top Cop As City Committee Backs Free Crack Kits

THE CITY'S free crack pipe program is here to stay -- at least for now. Dr.
Robert Cushman came out on top yesterday after a marathon debate with
Police Chief Vince Bevan and other critics over the city handing out crack
pipes to drug addicts.

"I think when we look back five years from now, this program, like other
things, they're tough to introduce, but over time their merit becomes
apparent," said Cushman.

"This will reduce the spread of hep C and HIV."

After spending seven hours listening to Cushman, Bevan and a long list of
critics, residents, addicts and health workers, the city's health,
recreation and social services committee voted 6-3 to maintain the program
that gives safer crack pipe kits to addicts.

But Coun. Jan Harder was already promising to try to kill the project at
the next council meeting.

Yesterday's debate began with fireworks as Cushman and Bevan hammered at
each other's position.

"There is no hard evidence, no empirical study that supports the
distribution of crack pipes as a measure," said Bevan, questioning the
program's legality and the impact it will have on the spread of disease and
drug use.

In what resembled a criminal trial, Bevan laid out the problems crack poses
in the community, showing photographs of the pipes, weapons and maps of
suspected crack houses.

Bevan said there are more than 20 crack houses in the city's urban areas.
While the police chief wondered whether the program was legal, he had no
legal opinion to offer.

ABOVE BOARD

But city solicitor Jerry Bellomo, noting that similar harm-reduction
programs have been running throughout the country for more than a decade,
said his research indicates the program doesn't violate provisions in the
Criminal Code.

"It is rather unusual that no other charges have been laid in any of these
other municipalities over the years," he said.

After listening to Bevan, Cushman fired back, telling the committee that
almost all of the money spent on fighting drug use in Canada ends up in the
hands of police, courts and jails -- with little left over for drug
treatment or harm reduction.

"Maybe we should actually look at what's happening with the 95% of the
money we're spending on this problem and whether or not that is making a
difference," said Cushman. "I applaud Chief Bevan and (a police staff
member) for their description of the problems we face when it comes to drugs.

"I am here ... to talk to you about harm reduction. Harm reduction in this
area is what I would call collateral damage. Collateral damage from the
failure of enforcement."

Cushman's arguments and stories from supporters of the program seemed to
sway any councillors who were wavering on the issue.

"We should not treat these people as if they are dead. If one person is
saved as a result of this program then we've done our job," said
Rideau-Vanier Coun. Georges Bedard.

Bedard said most of the pipes are handed out in his ward, adding it's
residents from other parts of the city who are complaining.

OPPOSING VIEWS

- - "The criminal law has not prevented the use of cocaine, it has not
prevented crack houses."

- -- Eugene Oscapella, Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy

- - "When we have a person who has alcohol abuse we don't hand him a beer. I
am against the program. We are enabling them to continue with the illegal
drugs."

- -- Catherine Gardner

- - "You may be a crackhead today but the day may come when you are no longer
a crackhead. But if you get HIV or hep C, well that is forever."

- -- Jay Koornstra, chairman of the city's SITE committee

- - "When you cut right through it, there is no conclusive study supporting
it. I don't think any minds were changed."

- -- Coun. Rick Chiarelli

- - "I fail to see how stopping this program will make it any better out
there in terms of the use of drugs. I think we're talking about it as a
health prevention strategy."

- -- Marguarite Keeley, executive director of the Centretown Community Health
Centre

- - "Perhaps if the chief had stayed for the afternoon, he might have heard
more information from the front lines."

- -- Brian Lyons, ex-drug user

- - "This isn't about giving addicts free paraphernalia. This is about
protecting their own kids and their own families from diseases like hep C
and HIV. My problem is with, I think, hypocritical, gutless politicians who
use people's real fears not to help solve the problem but make it worse."

- -- Coun. Clive Doucet