City program that offers free crack pipes will hurt Ottawa, police chief says

OTTAWA (CP) _ A city program that distributes free crack pipes is only making it easier for drug users to get their fix and will ultimately come back to haunt the community, Ottawa's police chief charged Friday.

Speaking at a news conference announcing a police project that recently shut down eight crack houses and charged 30 people, Vince Bevan said he could never condone the city health department's program to hand out crack pipe kits that launched Friday.

``Quite frankly, I have some problems with the crack cocaine pipes that are being distributed in this community,'' Bevan said. ``I see this as an initiative that enables drug use, and I fear that we will be picking up these kits on streets, in parks and schoolyards.''

The kits _ which include a glass stem with mouthpiece, aluminum caps, alcohol swabs, hand wipes and lip balm to prevent lips from cracking and spreading diseases such as HIV and hepatitis A, B and C _ don't go far enough, Bevan said.

``I don't consider this to be a harm-reduction program because it is focused on stopping the spread of HIV and hepatitis C. I don't see that there is a hook to engage users in dealing with their addictions through treatment.''

Bevan's criticism came just as police completed a lengthy investigation into the city's crack cocaine trade.

Dubbed Angle Iron, the investigation led to 144 charges against 30 people and the seizure of a variety of drugs, including 162 grams of crack cocaine and 648 grams of marijuana.

Police also seized a sawed-off shotgun, an assault rifle, stolen property including several pieces of stolen artwork, and more than $20,000 in U.S. and Canadian currency.

Among those arrested were a parole violator wanted on a Canadawide arrest warrant and a suspect in a string of six armed robberies.

Ottawa's medical officer of health, who attended the news conference, said adding more rehabilitation is simply not realistic.

``We know there are not enough spots available in the city, we know that the cost per spot is prohibitive,'' said Dr. Rob Cushman.

``This is actually a very cheap intervention that is costing the average taxpayer just a few pennies a year.'' (Ottawa Sun)

19:53ET 01-04-05