CRACK SMOKERS RISK SPREADING HEPATITIS C WHEN SHARING PIPES

VICTORIA (CP) -- A new study is providing evidence to support fears
that the highly infectious and potentially fatal hepatitis C virus
can be passed among crack cocaine smokers sharing pipes. "We have
some initial evidence that a hepatitis C-infected crack smoker can,
under certain circumstances, pass on the virus on to the pipe," said
Benedikt Fischer, leader of a study released yesterday.

The director of the University of Victoria's Centre for Addictions
Research said it affirms that oral crack users can pass on hepatitis
C through risky crack-use methods.

"[That's] one of several steps necessary to transmit hepatitis C from
one crack smoker to another by way of crack-pipe sharing," Dr. Fischer said.

The evidence comes from a new biological study of drug paraphernalia
used by more than 50 inner-city crack users in Toronto last year.

It also comes as public heat over the distribution of free, safe
crack pipe kits continues to inflame some Canadian communities.
Ottawa scrapped its safe-pipe program earlier this year under
political pressure at the municipal level, while a similar program in
Nanaimo, B.C., was put on hold.

Dr. Fischer said he felt the study's results have implications and
lessons for both scientists and public-health officials.

"Primarily, that in order to prevent the spread of hepatitis C in the
high-risk population of street drug users, you need to not only focus
on injection drug users but also on crack smokers," he explained.

The results are being welcomed by some at the leading edge of
drug-intervention programs.

British Columbia's provincial health officer said evidence of the
virus on the stems of crack pipes clearly helps the argument that
hepatitis C can be transmitted between smokers of the concentrated
cocaine concoction, sometimes known on the street as "rock."

"This study adds further support for interventions that are aimed at
trying to reduce the spread of infectious agents between crack
users," Perry Kendall said.

"For quite some time we've been concerned about the potential spread
of diseases like HIV, hepatitis C, tuberculosis and even syphilis,
using shared crack pipes - a bit like using shared drug-injection
equipment can spread diseases.

"This study, which actually finds hepatitis C virus on the stems of
crack pipes ... adds weight to the fact that this is a feasible way
to spread diseases."

Dr. Kendall said it's unfortunate the distribution of safer crack
pipe kits has come under fire.

Safer crack kits most often include a glass stem, mouthpiece, metal
screens, matches, Vaseline, condoms, lubricant, hand wipes and
alcohol swabs. Some also include lip balm, chewing gum and
information materials concerning safer crack use and treatment of
oral sores and lesions.

Dr. Kendall rejected suggestions that some harm-reduction programs
promote drug abuse. He said studies show needle-exchange programs and
supervised safe-injection sites do not encourage anyone "to take up
drug use or do more drugs than they would have done otherwise."

Dr. Kendall expressed frustration that free pipes for street users,
in particular, have come under fire.

"For some reason crack pipes have been a lightning rod for people who
are opposed to harm-reduction initiatives, who haven't been able to
unseat established programs, such as needle and syringe exchanges," he said.

In Nanaimo, a five-month program to distribute free pipes was put on
hold this summer, officially because of reports there were threats of
violence against nurses handing out the kits. But the program was
politically controversial.