Safer crack cocaine use kits a harm reduction hard sell
The smoking of crack cocaine is a relatively neglected public health problem in Canada, in comparison with injection drug use. Crack smoking involves particular risks and harms, including possible infectious disease transmission, which underlines the need for targeted interventions. One pragmatic grassroots intervention that has only recently begun or been discussed in several Canadian cities is the distribution of ‘safer crack use kits’, which provide hardware for crack smoking devices along with harm reduction information.*
We speak with Victoria city councillor Philippe Lucas, city of Esquimalt mayor Barbara Desjardins, city of Nanaimo mayor John Ruttan and Nanaimo city councillor Merv Unger about community reactions and the politics involved with ‘safer crack use kits’.
We also speak with Sandy McLean and Darcy Davidson, who are nurses involved with harm reduction programs at Nanaimo’s Harris House Clinic, and with Lorraine Barnaby, a health promoter with Shout Clinic in Toronto who is also a member of Toronto’s safer crack use coalition.
