Controversial program: Man hands out free meth pipes in Seattle
SEATTLE -- It's just a few bins, a table and one man.
“I’ve tried about every drug you can do,” Shilo Murphy said Wednesday.
As a lifelong drug user, Murphy’s purpose in life is this: “We are trying to make the best drug-users you can be.”
That mission happens in a Seattle alley where anyone can drop in for free supplies.
His group, the People's Harm Reduction Alliance, is the first in the nation to hand out free meth pipes.
Murphy believes the free pipes will encourage users to inhale meth instead of injecting it, thereby preventing diseases such as hepatitis C.
“Even though the intention is good, there might be some negative ramifications,” said Dr. Kalyan Dandala, addiction psychiatrist and medical director at Schick Shadel Hospital.
He says the new program is sending the wrong message.
“I think it will promote drug use, is my gut feeling,” Dandala said.
Doctors say meth is among the most dangerous drugs.
“It’s not only related to stealing for the habit. While they are intoxicated, they are very dangerous for society as well as the person using,” Dandala said.
“If your fear is out of control, meth users, then pipes should be your answer. If you use the pipe, you get less amount of the drug than if you inject it,” Murphy said.
Tacoma was the first in the nation to start needle exchanges 25 years ago and it's widely accepted now. The group is hoping free meth pipes will become as popular.
“The needle exchange program, that in of itself was an amazing harm-reduction program. I don’t see this as being harm-reduction,” Dandala said.
The King County Health Department says they are not ready to weigh in, with no hard data showing its effectiveness.
“Guess what? We are going to publish those studies. We are going to tell you that it works,” Murphy said.
For Murphy, it’s not about kicking the habit -- it's about being the best drug-user he can be.
“What do you do with all the people who are not going to stop?" Murphy asked.
People’s Harm Reduction Alliance uses private donations to buy the meth pipes. Murphy says if the program proves successful, he hopes taxpayers will help expand the program.