Pubdate: Sun, 09 Feb 2014 Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2014 The Calgary Sun Contact: http://www.calgarysun.com/letter-to-editor Website: http://www.calgarysun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67 Page: 12 B.C. GROUP SELLS CLEAN CRACK PIPES FOR A QUARTER VANCOUVER - A non-profit organization in Vancouver that distributed several thousand crack pipes two years back as part of a pilot program to protect addicts from overdosing and diseases, has sparked controversy for installing crack pipe vending machines in the city. The machines spit out a crack pipe for a quarter. The Portland Hotel Society, which operates the city's supervised injection site and manages several Downtown Eastside hotels, maintains the move will reduce the transmission of infectious diseases and allow users to work more closely with health professionals. "For us, this was about increasing access to safer inhalation supplies in the Downtown Eastside," Kailin See, director of the Society's Drug Users Resource Centre, told CTV Vancouver. She said the pipes are very durable and less likely to chip and cut drug users' mouths, which helps stop the spread communicable diseases including HIV and hepatitis. Reaction to the initiative was understandably mixed. "I initially thought this was a dumb idea, but if it can limit the spread of disease, etc., that is a positive thing for all of us," one person posted on CTV's site. Another wrote: "Do you really think these people care if they cut their lip or get a coldsore? "I think by doing this you are making crack use more accessible to young people. This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of.." - --- MAP posted-by: Matt