• Purchase equipment and supplies to enhance harm reduction efforts, such as:
o Harm reduction vending machine(s), including stock for machines;
o Infectious diseases testing kits (HIV, HBV, HCV, etc.);
o Medication lock boxes;
o FDA-approved overdose reversal medication (as well as higher dosages now approved by FDA);
o Safe sex kits, including PrEP resources and condoms;
o Safe smoking kits/supplies;
o Screening for infectious diseases (HIV, sexually transmitted infections, viral hepatitis);
o Sharps disposal and medication disposal kits;
o Substance test kits, including test strips for fentanyl and other synthetic drugs;
o Syringes to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases;
o Vaccination services (hepatitis A, hepatitis B vaccination); and
o Wound care management supplies.
Remember, the purpose of the grant is to address drug abuse, not tobacco abuse. It doesn't take a graphic imagination to suspect how the grant money could be abused.
NC Harm Reduction Coalition
NC HARM REDUCTION COALITION
Dedicated to the implementation of harm reduction interventions, public health strategies, drug policy transformation, and justice reform in North Carolina and throughout the American South.MENU
Safer Crack Use
What is Crack?
The harm reduction information that follows is offered as a public health service. Its purpose is not to encourage or condone the use or possession of illegal drugs. It is to help people make safer choices in their use of drugs that will reduce their chance of overdosing and them getting Hepatitis B & C and HIV.
Crack is one of the most commonly used drugs in NC
According to the DEA, there are around 171,000 Crack Users in North Carolina. Crack is the street name for a crystallized form of cocaine made into small lumps or rocks. Cocaine hydrochloride is processed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water and heated to remove the hydrochloride, thus producing a free base form of cocaine that can be smoked. The term crack refers to the crackling sound heard when the mixture is smoked.
Why should I smoke safer?
Smoking crack can lead to open sores, burns or cuts on the lips, which can transfer blood to a crack pipe. If the pipe is shared, even a speck of infected blood can transmit hepatitis C. People who smoke crack, like everyone else like to have sex. When you smoke crack it often decreases your inhibitions, and deceases condom negotiation skills, which can increase exposure to HIV, STIs and Hepatitis. Thus if you are going to use, we recommend women, men who have sex with men and people of transgender experience pre-insert a female/ reality condom into their vagina or anus (or both) and that men carry condoms with them when they use. HIV, hepatitis and STIs are not worth it. NCHRC provides both these condoms for free.
Why should non-crack smokers care?
If a crack smoker gets HIV, it will cost NC $660,000 in long term medical costs and if they get hepatitis C it costs the state between $100,000 to $600,000 in long term medical costs. These costs are preventable by having crack users use more safely and teaching them to have safer sex.
What is in a safer smoking kit?
NCHRC promotes crack users smoke safer if they are going to smoke. They should use the following to prevent the acquisition of HIV and hepatitis
Mouthpiece: This is the most important thing in the kit. A cut sparkplug fits nicely onto a stem. Using this prevents you from getting cut, burnt and infected lips and HCV exposures.
Rubber Bands: Wrap these around the end of the stem to prevent lip burns (be aware that with hear these occasionally melt and snap).
Triple Antibiotic Ointment: First Aid for sores. Do not use for burns.
Alcohol Wipes: Use these to clean mouthpieces and pipes, especially if you a are sharing equipment.
Antiseptic Towelettes: Use these to clean off our hands (and your John if you are doing sex work).
Chore Boy/Brio: Use this as a filter in the stem. After repeated heating choy becomes hot and brittle and can be sucked into your throat. This provides an opportunity for you to be exposed to diseases, especially during unprotected oral sex. Change out your choy often.
Screen: 1 inch screens are used as a filer in the stem. These are better than choy since they last longer.
Vitamin C & E: Vitamin C helps lessen fatigue and crashing. Vitamin E will help cuts, sores and burns heal.
Condoms (lubed and unlubed): Use lubed condoms for vaginal and anal sex, use unlubed for oral sex.
I don't see " crack pipes " listed in the kit.
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