Biden Administration Greenlights Crack Pipe Distribution Program

The Biden administration has greenlit a program that will provide crack pipes to drug users as a way to keep them safe from infections.

The $30 million grant program will be administered from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to non-profit organizations that hand out safe smoking kits. The program hopes that giving away the pipes will promote smoking instead of injecting drugs, which has more risks associated. Used crack pipes can also cause cuts and sores that can become infected. Those who receive the grant money can also purchase other supplies such as STD testing kits, overdose reversal medication, drug lockboxes, and substance test kits.

Programs applying for the grant will get priority if they serve primarily African Americans, Native Americans, or the LGBTQ community.

This latest push comes as many states work to reduce overdoses by creating safe spaces where addicts can use drugs. In November, New York City became the first city with authorized “safe injection” sites for people addicted to heroin and other narcotics. These facilities contain life-saving overdose reversal medications that can be used at a moment’s notice. So far, 125 people have been saved from overdosing. The Department of Justice said on Monday that they’d be looking into allowing more of these safe sites. San Francisco and Seattle have also experimented with crack pipe kit distribution programs.