Ottawa mayor maybe right to be against crack pipe program

Research that found traces of the hepatitis C virus on a used crack pipe has not changed Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien's opposition to the city's former crack pipe program.

The study released this week by Dr. Benedikt Fischer of the University of Victoria showed it may be possible to pass hepatitis C from one crack smoker to another.

That was one situation that the Ottawa program tried to prevent by providing clean, rubber-tipped crack pipes to addicts until it was canceled by city council in July

O'Brien said Friday he is "very open-minded in terms of scientific evidence," but would have to see data that suggest the city program caused addicts to avoid sharing crack pipes before he would change his mind.

"Based on what I've seen, based on what the police have told me, based on what I've been told by the crack addicts themselves, it isn't even in their mindset," he said while at a staff Christmas party at city hall.

However, he added there's no question in his mind that sharing crack pipes is dangerous.

Incidents of crack pipe sharing did fall after the Ottawa program began, according to a study by University of Ottawa researcher Lynne Leonard that was available online as a corrected proof in the International Journal of Drug Policy in May.

However, the Mayor and some councilors dispute the findings of the study.

He has expressed his opposition to the program since he started running for office in the 2006 election campaign, saying that addicts need help, not supplies.

When council canceled the program, at least one councilor argued there's no evidence the program did reduce the spread of disease and the program sent mixed messages, since people could be arrested for possessing crack.
CBC

Editor's opinion:

"I wonder what's worse: the results from smoking crack or the results from getting hepatitis C! Sharing crack pipes is dangerous?? What about the use of crack itself?!"

This is information about hepatitis C and the use of illegal drugs that I have found:"

Drug use by nasal inhalation (Drugs which are "snorted"):

Researchers have suggested that the transmission of HCV may be possible through the nasal inhalation (insuffulation) of illegal drugs such as cocaine and crystal methamphetamine when straws (containing even trace amounts of mucus and blood) are shared among users.

"i.e. it's not a 100% proven theory so it seems like the Mayor is not necessarily wrong to decide otherwise. He is a 100% right about one thing though: These people need help!"