Boston's crack pipe distribution plan sparks controversy
Molly Line reports on Boston's 'methadone mile' crisis.
The $1.7 trillion government funding bill expected to pass this week includes language that bans the use of federal funds to buy crack or meth pipes.
"Notwithstanding any provision of this title and the amendments made by this title, no funds made available to carry out this title or any amendment made by this title shall be used to purchase, procure, or distribute pipes or cylindrical objects intended to be used to smoke or inhale illegal scheduled substances," the bill states.
That language is part of a section of the sprawling bill dealing with substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery.
BOSTON'S CRACK PIPE DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY SPARKS BACKLASH AS ‘METHADONE MILE’ CRISIS PERSISTS
A pipe for crack cocaine use, a needle for heroin use and a pipe for methamphetamine. (Reuters/David Ryder)
The government funding bill was advanced in a 70-25 vote in the Senate Tuesday with no opposition from Democrats.
Language on drug paraphernalia comes after the White House in February claimed that its $30 million harm reduction grant program through the Department of Health and Human Services would not include crack or meth pipes in its listed "smoking kits." Reports that these kits did include pipes, the White House claimed, were "misinformation."
Sen. Marco Rubio (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., first proposed language to ban pipes used to smoke drugs in his CRACK Act. He said he expects this ban on drug smoking paraphernalia to become the norm at the federal level.
"Most people would agree their tax dollars shouldn’t pay for crack pipes," Rubio told Fox News Digital. "Sending drug paraphernalia to addicts is not the answer. It’s just common sense."
But later press reports did find "smoking kits" commonly included pipes, and organizations receiving harm reduction grants from HHS in Maine and New York distributed pipes in their smoking kits.
HHS told Fox News Digital it met with each individual grant recipient in the program to ensure federal funds do not go toward pipes.
HHS SEC. BACERRA SAYS CRACK PIPES WON'T BE DISTRIBUTED USING FEDERAL FUNDS IN SMOKING KITS
The White House denied it was set to fund crack pipes. (Screenshot/Twitter)
Even if this policy becomes law, the Department of Justice is reportedly considering how to legalize injection sites, which allow people to use drugs with supervision.
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Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat, faced backlash this month from voters and even a Democratic city councilman for her city’s crack pipe distribution.
"The people who are struggling, they need treatment and recovery, and they need mental health services," said Democrat City Councilor Michael Flaherty. "We should not be enabling those poor souls who are down there."
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