promoting safer smoking (crack, meth)

Some people prefer smoking crack cocaine over snorting powder cocaine. And some people would rather smoke crystal meth than swallow methamphetamine. One reason is because smoking sends the drugs to the brain more quickly. Another reason is that smoking produces more of an intense high. In the case of crack, it costs a lot less than powder cocaine.

While smoking cocaine and methamphetamine is safer than injecting them, there are still many risks and harms:

• throat, mouth and lung damage, infections and disease for the person smoking the drugs
• careless risk-taking while under the influence, and depression afterwards
• compromised public health due to the transmission of saliva and blood-borne diseases
• crime and violence associated with prohibition and the black market

Reducing the harm from smoking drugs such as crack or crystal meth involves a range of initiatives to address drug use patterns, personal and collective capacities and a variety of social and environmental factors.

Some strategies to reduce risk

Reach out and support people who smoke crack or crystal meth (e.g., engage them in conversation about their drug use through open-ended questions; share information like the Safer Smoking brochure; provide safer smoking kits containing pipes, wire screens, pushsticks, lip balm and so on; encourage and support their efforts to adopt healthier patterns of use) – see Art of Motivation for ways to offer support (it works for young people and adults).

Collaborate with drug user networks (e.g., support gatherings to share ideas and discuss ways to promote safer smoking practices, provide informational resources that can be distributed through the networks; train peer mentors in safer smoking practices, emergency response techniques and referral processes).

Support dialogue and cooperation among community-based service providers (e.g., explore ways to work together to reduce harms related to smoking drugs such as crack and crystal meth; engage in joint activities to increase social supports and address public attitudes; develop a common language and understanding on services and supports; develop joint educational materials).

Engage your community in discussions and actions that promote social equity (e.g., work to ensure people have access to secure and safe housing and meaningful employment; promote ways to ensure those who do not have immediate access to safe housing are not put at further risk by needing to consume drugs in public spaces; assess public policy using an equity lens to determine if current policies disproportionately impact some groups within the community).