PIPING UP FOR ADDICTS

Coalition Finds Cash For Axed Program

A coalition of 10 community organizations announced yesterday they'll
dig into their own pockets to keep the city's cancelled crack pipe
program going -- despite threats of funding cuts.

"This is something we cannot ignore," said Dr. Dona Bowers of the
Somerset West Community Health Centre. "This is a public health issue."

Crack is a big problem in Ottawa, she said. One-fifth of drug users
have HIV and three-quarters have hepatitis C.

Public health agencies around the world -- and 11 Canadian cities --
are handing out pipes to protect crack smokers and their neighbours.

"It's also targeted at keeping our community safe," Bowers said. "We
don't want that potentially infected paraphernalia to be found in our
parks and playgrounds. This program includes safe disposal to keep
our communities safe."

The AIDS Committee of Ottawa, five community health centres, Centre
507, the Youth Services Bureau, the Elizabeth Fry Society and the
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health will spend $15,000 to run the
program until the end of the year when they hope long-term funding
will be in place.

Advocates sidestepped questions about the politics behind the
surprise vote and threats made by some councillors to cancel funding
to agencies that continue to hand out crack pipes.

"We have a good relationship with the City of Ottawa," said Jack
McCarthy, executive director of the Somerset West Community Health
Centre. "We're confident that will continue."

But Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Jacques Legendre hopes critics will think
twice before punishing agencies that do so much good.

Critics are focusing on the perception clean pipes encourage crack
use when the public health measure was only a fraction of the city's
drug strategy, he said.

'Complex' Message

"Harm reduction is not just harm reduction to the users -- it's also
harm reduction to the community," he said.

"For some reason, that message has not gotten through. That message
isn't understood because it's complex. People would like the problem
to disappear. That ain't gonna happen. There's no magic wand here."

Recovered cocaine addict Mika Convoy credits the needle exchange
program -- which the city continues to run -- for keeping her
healthy, then helping her find treatment when she was ready. Crack
smokers deserve the same chance.

"I strongly believe it saved my life," she said. "It spared me from
getting HIV and other diseases and it gave me contact with outreach
workers. When you're out there, lost in a world of addiction and
despair, there aren't a lot of friendly people out there.

"It's so important to have a safe place to go."