The White House said the Department of Health and Human Services will not distribute crack pipes after a drug harm reduction program being implemented at HHS drew strong pushback.
“They were never part of the kit,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday. “It was inaccurate reporting, and we wanted to put out information to make that clear.”
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DISTRIBUTES SYRINGES AND ‘SMOKING KITS’ FOR ‘EQUITY’
Several prominent Republicans, including Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, have decried the program in recent days.
“Biden is sending free meth & crack pipes to minority communities in the name of ‘racial equity,'” Rubio tweeted Tuesday. “There is no end in sight for this lunacy.”
Cotton tweeted that “HHS confirms that the Biden Administration is funding crack pipe distribution. They call it harm reduction. The rest of us call it insanity.”
But HHS spokeswoman Sarah Lovenheim denied that aspect of the reports.
To be clear: HHS is not distributing crack pipes. The grants fund harm reduction efforts by organizations, in full adherence of state and local laws. https://t.co/mCHlh5sqPf
— Sarah Lovenheim (@HHS_Spox) February 8, 2022
The deadline for the $30 million program was Monday, with HHS distributing funds to nonprofit groups and local governments. Among the items the grant will pay for are syringes and “safe smoking kits/supplies.”
The kits will allow users to smoke crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and other illicit substances, the Washington Free Beacon reported. HHS later said the report was “blatant misinformation.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to HHS for comment about the program earlier this week but has yet to hear back.
Psaki was asked for clarification about the program, responding that the safe smoking kits may contain alcohol swabs, lip balm, and “other materials to promote hygiene and reduce the transmission of diseases like HIV and hepatitis.”
“I would note that what we’re really talking about here is steps that we’re taking as a federal government to address the opioid epidemic,” Psaki said.
One of the priorities for recipients is serving under-resourced populations, including racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minority groups, aligning with an executive order President Joe Biden signed upon taking office.
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The program also involves the distribution of fentanyl test strips and syringes.
“As the statement makes clear, we don’t support federal funding, directly or indirectly, for pipes,” Psaki said.
