Crack kits edge closer to reality
Toronto's board of health yesterday approved a controversial new drug strategy, despite the pleas of residents who oppose plans to distribute crack pipes to junkies and pursue safe injection sites.
The board, which includes six city councillors, voted unanimously for the plan. It must now be approved by city council, which will vote on it this month or next.
Councillor Kyle Rae, who led the strategy advisory committee, said most of its 66 recommendations are not controversial. But he argued the city must explore measures like safe injection sites along with proposals to fight drug crime, expand treatment services and develop prevention campaigns.
"Harm reduction is not the solution. It's not a panacea," Mr. Rae said. "But it is a part of the solution."
The committee heard divided opinions on the plan, which would hand out "safer crack use kits," containing sterile pipes and other paraphernalia.
Linda Dixon, a Regent Park resident, displayed a pile of syringes and disposable crack pipes that she collected within 100 metres of Nelson Mandela elementary school. Alongside the paraphernalia were pamphlets and matchbooks featuring the Toronto Public Health logo, she said. Ms. Dixon argued more needles and pipes will litter the streets if the city implements the drug strategy.
"There's no such thing as a needle exchange program," she said. "They pick up needles; they never turn old needles in."
The plan includes the creation of a 24-hour crisis centre for addicts, a restriction on the number of liquor licences in a single neighbourhood and support for marijuana decriminalization.
The plan also calls for the creation of a permanent committee to implement the strategy and study the introduction of safe-injection and safe-inhalation sites such as those introduced in Vancouver.
"There is no such thing as the safe use of crack," said Suzanne Edmonds, president of the Corktown Residents and Business Association, who also opposed opening safe injection sites. "These places should be called harm production sites, not harm reduction sites."
Howard Bortenstein, another resident, alleged the drug strategy was skewed in favour of harm reduction programs because its advisory committee was composed of outreach groups and medical workers.
"The strategy's development process was dominated by insiders and lobbyists," Mr. Bortenstein said, adding later, "These lobbyists have received grants, funds or contracts from the city of Toronto or are likely to receive grants, funds or contracts for projects or services within the scope of the strategy."
Neighbourhood groups were not adequately consulted, Mr. Bortenstein added.
"There was no evidence that a single business or neighbourhood association was consulted -- or even asked -- for their input during the first 16 months of the initiative," he said.
Peter Selby, clinical director of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, said harm reduction programs such as safe crack kits are a useful first step in encouraging drug users to seek treatment.
"People who come into those programs most often end up in addiction treatment programs after the fact," Dr. Selby said. "We need to meet people where they're at, rather than where they should be."
Barb Panter of the Safer Crack Use Coalition said the safe crack kits also reduce the risk of disease transmission between drug users. "When we are able to educate our clients, we enable them not to become another statistic --another overdose death, another HIV-positive drug user, another homeless person," Ms. Panter said.
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Crack kits edge closer to reality
Drug strategy approved
James Cowan
National Post
October 25, 2005
http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/toronto/story.html?id=65e6ba69-65c2-42fb-9c58-5094ed402094
Toronto's board of health yesterday approved a controversial new drug strategy, despite the pleas of residents who oppose plans to distribute crack pipes to junkies and pursue safe injection sites.
The board, which includes six city councillors, voted unanimously for the plan. It must now be approved by city council, which will vote on it this month or next.
Councillor Kyle Rae, who led the strategy advisory committee, said most of its 66 recommendations are not controversial. But he argued the city must explore measures like safe injection sites along with proposals to fight drug crime, expand treatment services and develop prevention campaigns.
"Harm reduction is not the solution. It's not a panacea," Mr. Rae said. "But it is a part of the solution."
The committee heard divided opinions on the plan, which would hand out "safer crack use kits," containing sterile pipes and other paraphernalia.
Linda Dixon, a Regent Park resident, displayed a pile of syringes and disposable crack pipes that she collected within 100 metres of Nelson Mandela elementary school. Alongside the paraphernalia were pamphlets and matchbooks featuring the Toronto Public Health logo, she said. Ms. Dixon argued more needles and pipes will litter the streets if the city implements the drug strategy.
"There's no such thing as a needle exchange program," she said. "They pick up needles; they never turn old needles in."
The plan includes the creation of a 24-hour crisis centre for addicts, a restriction on the number of liquor licences in a single neighbourhood and support for marijuana decriminalization.
The plan also calls for the creation of a permanent committee to implement the strategy and study the introduction of safe-injection and safe-inhalation sites such as those introduced in Vancouver.
"There is no such thing as the safe use of crack," said Suzanne Edmonds, president of the Corktown Residents and Business Association, who also opposed opening safe injection sites. "These places should be called harm production sites, not harm reduction sites."
Howard Bortenstein, another resident, alleged the drug strategy was skewed in favour of harm reduction programs because its advisory committee was composed of outreach groups and medical workers.
"The strategy's development process was dominated by insiders and lobbyists," Mr. Bortenstein said, adding later, "These lobbyists have received grants, funds or contracts from the city of Toronto or are likely to receive grants, funds or contracts for projects or services within the scope of the strategy."
Neighbourhood groups were not adequately consulted, Mr. Bortenstein added.
"There was no evidence that a single business or neighbourhood association was consulted -- or even asked -- for their input during the first 16 months of the initiative," he said.
Peter Selby, clinical director of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, said harm reduction programs such as safe crack kits are a useful first step in encouraging drug users to seek treatment.
"People who come into those programs most often end up in addiction treatment programs after the fact," Dr. Selby said. "We need to meet people where they're at, rather than where they should be."
Barb Panter of the Safer Crack Use Coalition said the safe crack kits also reduce the risk of disease transmission between drug users. "When we are able to educate our clients, we enable them not to become another statistic --another overdose death, another HIV-positive drug user, another homeless person," Ms. Panter said.
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Crack kits edge closer to reality
Drug strategy approved
James Cowan
National Post
October 25, 2005
http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/toronto/story.html?id=65e6ba69-65c2-42fb-9c58-5094ed402094
