![]() ![]() The vending machines are located in our Drug User Resource Center-a safe place for drug users to come in from the rain, have a meal, do their laundry, or participate in a creative arts or healing program. In Canada, an HIV infection costs taxpayers approximately $200,000 to $1.4 million, but at a mere 25 cents, a crack pipe saves us all money in the long run. By helping to prevent new infections of HIV and hepatitis C, these machines save lives, but are also highly cost-effective. In Vancouver we are trying to find pragmatic ways of dealing with it. I would say that drug addiction is a tough issue in many countries. What do you say to critics who say that the machines promote drug use? ![]() The machines increase the accessibility of affordable pipes at all hours of the day. This price was too high for many users, meaning people were more likely to share pipes or use unclean equipment. But why vending machines?īefore we introduced the machines, a pipe cost anywhere between $1 and $10 on the street. This vending machine makes clean pipes available those who need them. People who smoke crack often get blisters or burns on their mouth, and sharing a pipe and mouthpiece means greater risk of HIV or hepatitis C, and possibly other infections like pneumonia. It’s part of a basic public health intervention, very similar to needle and syringe programs. Why does Vancouver need crack pipe vending machines? ![]()
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