The subject of harm
reduction has been a touchy in Calgary and across Canada. There have been
strong opinions on both sides of the argument; however it appears that the
focus on harm reduction as a health care practice has been lost.
There also seems to be a lot of sensationalism around this topic circulating in media all over the country, which may just be fuelling some misconceptions about harm reduction practices. To clarify what exactly harm reduction practices are and what they mean, we’ve identified some common concerns and explained harm reduction principles.
Our taxes shouldn't pay to support drug use.
Often the issue of cost can influence the public’s evaluation of a social program. A commonly heard concern is that non-supporters of harm reduction programs do not want their taxes used to support addicts. However, when the cost of safe-inhalation materials (roughly breaks down to about $0.30 per crack pipe) is compared to the long term cost of hepatitis C or HIV treatment (upwards of thousands and thousands of dollars), the difference is staggering. The latest hepatitis C drug approved by Health Canada, known as Victrelis, is approximately $50,000 for each afflicted individual (1). Victrelis is just one of many hepatitis C drugs that provincial governments are being asked to pay for (1). The list of expenses only gets longer if an individual is accessing HIV treatment and other associated medical costs into the equation.
Giving out free crack pipes only encourages drug addiction.
This argument is based on the premise that giving out free pipes enables drug users and decriminalizes crack abuse. Some people are unwilling to put their faith in harm reduction as it may not appear to treat addiction but only reduces harm. There have many studies that suggest that harm reduction can and has actually instigated drug rehabilitation. Unfortunately, not all addicted individuals want to quit using, and others may not be able to just simply quit their habit. When clients access programs or agencies that offer harm reduction materials, they begin to form a relationship with service providers who then can provide addiction referrals, basic needs and cessation support. All of these services are crucial in assisting, supporting and often times encouraging an individual through drug rehabilitation. However, if harm reduction services are unavailable or we suddenly discontinue services then these relationships become lost and these individuals may not find the support or counselling they need to find rehabilitation.
What’s the point?
In conclusion the true purpose of offering free harm reduction materials like crack pipes and needles must be reiterated: to mitigate the spread of hepatitis C, HIV and other blood borne pathogens. Harm reduction is not a new practice. In fact, our society actually uses other harm reduction practices every day, such as seatbelts, helmets, and of course condoms. For example, at AIDS Calgary we supply free condoms to promote safer sex and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, STIs and hepatitis C, and we understand that recent statistics suggest that in Alberta there is currently a high rate of syphilis which can be contracted through unprotected sexual activity (4); by handing out free condoms we are not intending to encourage everyone to have less sex, nor are we encouraging people to have more sex. We are acknowledging the fact that there are transmission risks when having unprotected sex, and in our province a significant risk of contracting syphilis, therefore wearing a condom and engaging in safer sex will significantly prevent the spread of infection and benefit our society as a whole. This is exactly the same principle behind the distribution of free crack pipes, needles and other paraphilia.
This article was written by Cory Waller in assistance with ACAA's Communications Coordinator. It was originally posted on the A Word on August 25, 2011. http://aidscalgary.blogspot.ca/search/label/harm%20reduction
Sources:
1. 2011, CTV News, New Hepatitis C drug exciting but expensive, http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20110805/hepatitis-c-drug-victrelis-treatment-110805/
2. Accessed 2011, InSite website, http://www.communityinsite.ca/science.html
3. 2011, Toronto Sun, Jerry Agar, Crack pipes and cracked arguments? http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/08/02/crack-pipes-and-cracked-arguments
4. 2011, Infectious Syphilis/Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/4895.asp
There also seems to be a lot of sensationalism around this topic circulating in media all over the country, which may just be fuelling some misconceptions about harm reduction practices. To clarify what exactly harm reduction practices are and what they mean, we’ve identified some common concerns and explained harm reduction principles.
Our taxes shouldn't pay to support drug use.
Often the issue of cost can influence the public’s evaluation of a social program. A commonly heard concern is that non-supporters of harm reduction programs do not want their taxes used to support addicts. However, when the cost of safe-inhalation materials (roughly breaks down to about $0.30 per crack pipe) is compared to the long term cost of hepatitis C or HIV treatment (upwards of thousands and thousands of dollars), the difference is staggering. The latest hepatitis C drug approved by Health Canada, known as Victrelis, is approximately $50,000 for each afflicted individual (1). Victrelis is just one of many hepatitis C drugs that provincial governments are being asked to pay for (1). The list of expenses only gets longer if an individual is accessing HIV treatment and other associated medical costs into the equation.
Giving out free crack pipes only encourages drug addiction.
This argument is based on the premise that giving out free pipes enables drug users and decriminalizes crack abuse. Some people are unwilling to put their faith in harm reduction as it may not appear to treat addiction but only reduces harm. There have many studies that suggest that harm reduction can and has actually instigated drug rehabilitation. Unfortunately, not all addicted individuals want to quit using, and others may not be able to just simply quit their habit. When clients access programs or agencies that offer harm reduction materials, they begin to form a relationship with service providers who then can provide addiction referrals, basic needs and cessation support. All of these services are crucial in assisting, supporting and often times encouraging an individual through drug rehabilitation. However, if harm reduction services are unavailable or we suddenly discontinue services then these relationships become lost and these individuals may not find the support or counselling they need to find rehabilitation.
What’s the point?
In conclusion the true purpose of offering free harm reduction materials like crack pipes and needles must be reiterated: to mitigate the spread of hepatitis C, HIV and other blood borne pathogens. Harm reduction is not a new practice. In fact, our society actually uses other harm reduction practices every day, such as seatbelts, helmets, and of course condoms. For example, at AIDS Calgary we supply free condoms to promote safer sex and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, STIs and hepatitis C, and we understand that recent statistics suggest that in Alberta there is currently a high rate of syphilis which can be contracted through unprotected sexual activity (4); by handing out free condoms we are not intending to encourage everyone to have less sex, nor are we encouraging people to have more sex. We are acknowledging the fact that there are transmission risks when having unprotected sex, and in our province a significant risk of contracting syphilis, therefore wearing a condom and engaging in safer sex will significantly prevent the spread of infection and benefit our society as a whole. This is exactly the same principle behind the distribution of free crack pipes, needles and other paraphilia.
This article was written by Cory Waller in assistance with ACAA's Communications Coordinator. It was originally posted on the A Word on August 25, 2011. http://aidscalgary.blogspot.ca/search/label/harm%20reduction
Sources:
1. 2011, CTV News, New Hepatitis C drug exciting but expensive, http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20110805/hepatitis-c-drug-victrelis-treatment-110805/
2. Accessed 2011, InSite website, http://www.communityinsite.ca/science.html
3. 2011, Toronto Sun, Jerry Agar, Crack pipes and cracked arguments? http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/08/02/crack-pipes-and-cracked-arguments
4. 2011, Infectious Syphilis/Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/4895.asp
2 comments:
Thanks for posting this review! I love this website and I’ve subscribed to it.
hello is a difficult subject well because the views are split, but very interesting
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