DENYING PIPES TO DRUG-USERS HURTS US ALL

Re: Council kills crack pipe program, July 12.

I protest this shortsighted and ideologically based move.

Ottawa faces a public health crisis from high rates of infectious
disease among people who use drugs: 21 per cent are HIV-positive --
the second highest rate in Canada -- and 76 per cent have hepatitis C
- -- a rate higher than Toronto's or Montreal's. These rates are
alarming and pose a risk not only to drug-users but also to the wider
community.

Contrary to some councillors' opinions, there is compelling evidence
that safer crack kits reduce communicable diseases and risk
behaviours. For example, the reported frequency of pipe-sharing in
Winnipeg decreased to 40 per cent from 79 per cent after that city's
program was implemented.

Under the Ottawa program, the frequency of sharing implements to
smoke crack has declined and many users have changed from injecting
drugs to smoking crack, which is less risky. As the University of
Ottawa study (partially paid for by the city) looking at the program
noted, "these findings suggest the urgent utility of replicating this
initiative."

Our centre's health providers can also attest to the benefits of this
program linking these clients with needed health services. This
surprise council decision, made without health-care providers and
other affected stakeholders present, calls into question how
supposedly democratic decisions are made.

Any drug strategy that neglects harm reduction will fail. As a
homeowner in west Centretown, an area facing significant challenges
from illicit drug use, I understand the concerns of residents who
encounter the effects of open drug use within their community.

However, denying people the services they need will not solve this
problem. Instead, it will ultimately result in higher rates of HIV
and hepatitis C infection. This would cost thousands of public
dollars more to treat just one person compared with the cost of this
program, which serves the entire city.

People who use drugs are part of our community. In addition to
prevention, treatment and enforcement, we should provide effective
harm reduction programs-- not consign those addicted to further
misery, ill-health and likely premature death. I urge council to
reverse this harmful decision.

Aileen Leo, Ottawa

Somerset West

Community Health Centre