Hamilton to give crack pipes to addicts in hopes for infection control

Hamilton is poised to hand out free crack pipes to drug addicts in the name of infection control.
The proposed “inhalation kits” would be distributed along with syringes already handed out through the city’s nearly 20-year-old needle-exchange program, said a report to the board of health Monday.
The program is designed to stop drug users from sharing crack pipes, or at least cut the risk when they do share, said Dr. Julie Emili, an associate city medical officer of health.

Emili told councillors drug smokers often end up with cracked and bloody lips, which means sharing a pipe can also pass along such deadly diseases as HIV, Hepatitis C and tuberculosis.
Emili said police have told public health officials the use of crack pipes is a “significant, growing issue” in Hamilton, particularly in the core.
She said the department should be able to buy and distribute the $2 kits without adding to its overall “harm-reduction” budget.

Emili noted free pipes are already distributed in Kingston and Halton. She said the program will “try to meet demand,” but likely won’t stop all pipe sharing.
That’s why the kits will come with options to make sharing safer, including two Pyrex glass stems, two rubber mouthpieces and alcohol swabs to try to minimize the dangers.

Emili also emphasized the program is “only one part of a multi--prong strategy.
The board of health voted 7-4 in favour of the expansion, which also recommends extending the hours of some needle-exchange sites.
The decision still needs to be ratified at Wednesday’s council meeting.