crack pipes

By: JAMES WILT, Fast Forward Weekly

Following a barrage of Calgary Sun articles last week regarding the distribution of crack pipes by Safeworks, a Calgary harm reduction program, staff there has been instructed by Alberta Health Services (AHS) to stop handing them out.

At 1 p.m. today, the staff of Safeworks received an internal memo via email which said, "As of today, we have been instructed by the deputy minister of health to discontinue crack pipe distribution until further notice due to legal implications. Crack pipes are to be removed from the van immediately."

Although crack pipes have been distributed by the program since 2008, the Calgary Sun published two articles in its Tuesday, August 2 newspaper, lashing out at the fact that the Alberta government, and ultimately taxpayers, are paying for and contributing to drug users' habits. Read more »