[HARMRED] crack kits?

[Luciano Colonna]

Regarding the health risks of smoking crack (r meth): What kind of increase in risk of disease transmission are we talking about? While I think drug users should not be denied paraphernalia - I'm interested in learning more about the health concerns. If I'm fighting for someone to have a "right"  -  I'm interesting in knowing why I'm fighting. 

Another issue that I have questions about is the distributing of vitamins. The efficacy of supplements seems to be beneficial only when used as a supplement. I see program after program giving vitamins out and users scooping them up by the handful  -  taking them in the belief it will keep them healthier. I've often thought that buying fresh fruit was a better idea. I'm not talking about vitamin e and track marks -  I'm speaking about C, etc.... Giving people who don't eat vitamins seems like an idea that needs to be revisited.

Full Disclosure: I've run a few harm reduction programs and we always gave out both vitamins and crack kits...

Thanks,
Luciano


Luciano Colonna
Consultant, Public Health/Policy

+01.212.518.4529  (forwarded during travel)
lcolonna at safegamesproject.com
lcolonna at warinphnompenh.com

London		+ 44 203 318 1299 
Warsaw		+ 48 223 074   422
New York	+ 01 212 518 4529




On 10/6/11, at 11:27 PM, Irina Alexander wrote:

> Dear harm reductionists, 
> 
> I'm trying to find out more about the legal status of crack cocaine harm reduction kits. Check out today's article about yet another organization in Canada jumping into the effort. 
> 
> Are the kits legal in any states in the US? I made the attached flyer for HIPS last year, but we discovered they're still illegal in DC. Right now, I'm working with a group that's drafting a DC Good Samaritan law bill and we've started discussing possibly trying to include crack cocaine kit language, especially since the District has the highest rate of cocaine use in America. 
> 
> Thoughts/info? 
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> -- 
> Irina Alexander
> Chief of Staff, Criminal Justice Policy Foundation
> www.cjpf.org
> Chair, SSDP National Board of Directors
> www.SchoolsNotPrisons.com
> (410) 971-6588
> 
> Become a monthly Students for Sensible Drug Policy donor and help end the war on drugs! 
> http://www.ssdp.org/donate
> 
> 
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