Reading this article, I thought there was no way in hell it could be true. Sadly, Canada has done something I never imagined…gave handouts to crack heads to help minimize the spread of disease.

Drug addicts in a crime-ridden Canadian neighbourhood are being given free crack pipes, it has emerged.

The handouts are part of a ’harm reduction strategy’ aimed at curbing the spread of disease in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Among the items distributed are heat-resistant and shatterproof glass pipes, which experts say should reduce injury to the users’ lips and mouth.

HIV, Hepatitis B and C are among the diseases that are easily spread from drug addicts who are injured by their pieces and then pass them around to fellow users. For now, they have put down $60,000 in a trial project to help bring this community out of the gutter. Along with drug paraphernalia, they also passed out mouthpieces, filters, alcohol swabs, screens and push sticks.

In total, 60,000 kits are expected to be distributed at five locations during an eight-month trial period.

‘What this boils down to is it’s about disease prevention,’ Ms Beutel told the National Post.

They are also able to get some insight into how many crack heads they have roaming their streets, as well as percentages of who is participating in this drug use. Crack has gained popularity in Canada, and seeing as they now get free pipes too, I can imagine crack heads from all over flocking to this area.

SOURCE

Related articles

• Vancouver health authority begins its free crack pipe program for addicts (news.nationalpost.com)
• Free crack pipes now distributed in Vancouver as part of health strategy (theprovince.com)
• Free crack pipes handed out to Vancouver addicts (canada.com)
• Free crack pipes now distributed in Vancouver (windsorstar.com)
• Vancouver Canada Giving Out Free Crack Pipes (hiphopwired.com)