MAYOR 'WOULD LIKE TO SEE' CRACK-PIPE KIT DEBATE

A new program that gives crack pipe kits to drug addicts must be
reconsidered in the face of public and police protest, says Mayor Bob
Chiarelli. "There are very, very strong health arguments that it's
helpful to do what the medical officer of health is suggesting," he
said.

"On the other hand, I think we have to listen to our public and our
police and sometimes we have to defer to a strong public consensus. I
want to see where the public consensus is on (this issue) before I
make my decision."

Chiarelli made the comments yesterday regarding the expansion of the
city's harm-reduction program that distributes clean drug
paraphernalia, such as needles, to drug addicts.

The program was expanded to include clean crack pipe mouthpieces in
hopes of reducing the spread of Hep C and HIV.

"I think it's a decision for council and I would like to see a public
debate and I would like to see council deliberate on this issue," said
Chiarelli. "There are strong arguments to be made on both sides."

The debate over whether to hand out the kits has pitted the city's
medical officer of health, Dr. Robert Cushman, against some city
councillors and police Chief Vince Bevan.

Cushman and other doctors say that the harm-reduction programs have
been proven to work.

In cases of injection drug users, studies have shown the spread of HIV
among drug addicts using clean needles is dramatically lower than that
of their peers who don't use needle-exchange programs.

Cushman is hoping there will be a similar effect on Hep C.

DRUGS ON CITY STREETS

But others like Bevan and councillors Jan Harder and Eli El-Chantiry
claim the handing out of the paraphernalia is encouraging more drug
use and not solving the problem of drugs on the city's streets.

Council will likely have a chance to revisit the issue after a move by
councillors Diane Deans and Rick Chiarelli, who say there's new
information about the issue that needs to be considered and are
calling for the debate to be reopened.

Deans said the prevention of Hep C is a "noble goal" but wondered if
more suitable alternatives to the program may exist.

"The question is 'Is this a reasonable approach especially when your
police chief raises concerns?' " said Deans.