CRACKS IN THEIR THEORY

At the risk of being labeled old-fashioned, I have to say I don't have a
whole lot of time for the latest social advocacy group to raise its addled
head in the Lower Mainland.

The group, which is calling for a so-called safe crack smoking site, would
probably be better off trying to help its members kick their highly
destructive habit.

Clearly modeled after the safe injection site brought in by the City of
Vancouver, the proposal is distinctly different and lacks any real merit.

Let's be clear here. The safe injection site program was instituted in
order to deal with a very real public health emergency.

The intravenous drug users in the downtown core were becoming a breeding
ground for the HIV virus, resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of
AIDS cases in the municipality.

Sharing needles was the main mode of transmission among IV drug users, and
while it might be considered by some to be more appropriate to crack down
on them, this clearly hasn't been effective.

Similarly, public education campaigns to only use clean needles was also
not working with this group of drug-addled addicts.

Using a harm reduction model, officials decided to take matters into their
own hands and begin needle exchange programs.

The safe injection site idea was merely a logical extension of this
program, providing a place where addicts could use their injection drugs
and be assured they wouldn't be passing on any deadly diseases to anyone else.

The whole concept was simply to deal with a public health issue.

In stark contrast, the crack users group has stated they simply want a
place to smoke their drug in an environment that is free from police
harassment.

Unlike needles, crack pipes aren't known for spreading any diseases other
than addiction, violence, crime and despair.

The users of this horrible drug don't need a safe place to ingest it, but
rather, detox and counselling services.

The crack users advocates don't have a case, in my opinion, and their lofty
pronouncements should be relegated to the odd spot section in the paper,
useful only to give other folks a chuckle as they drink their morning coffee.