Bologna, crack pipes distributed free of charge by the municipality: controversy

Starting in the coming weeks, the Municipality of Bologna will distribute free crack pipes to users of the substance. Thus, after an initial phase started a year and a half ago, Palazzo d'Accursio's experimentation in harm reduction is now in full swing. The aluminium pipe for inhaling the cocaine-based drug will be distributed by Asp street workers, but it can also be requested in the spaces of Fuori binario in via Carracci. A measure (the cost of the 300 pipes purchased is around 3500 euro) created to counter the increase in crack users under the towers. According to Ausl data only those in charge were 518 as of 30 June, of which, 134 new cases. They were 353 in 2023 and 456 in 2024.

'Crack,' explains councillor Matilde Madrid, 'remains a substance with serious health effects, we are aware of that. The harm reduction policy is mainly aimed at intercepting these people: 55 per cent are Italians. Experimentation has shown that the use of appropriate tools makes it possible to reduce consumption and secondary pathologies such as bleeding, tracheitis, infections resulting from the use of improvised and shared materials, so we are extending it'. In the same vein, the municipality provides drug testing, a kit for analysing substances for consumption.

'Crack pipes distributed by the Municipality of Bologna, at taxpayers' expense? This is madness. Drugs are death and it sucks. It should be stopped, not incentivised,' writes Matteo Salvini, deputy prime minister and leader of the League, on social media, commenting on the decision of the mayor of Bologna, Matteo Lepore, to distribute crack pipes to reduce the damage. Accompanying the post, Salvini publishes a photomontage of a man holding a crack pipe with 'Comune di Bologna' written on it.

"On the day in which the Prime Minister from the stage of the Rimini Meeting pronounces strong and powerful words against drugs, also announcing his visit to the community of San Patrignano, we learn that the Pd-led Bologna City Council has decided on the free distribution of aluminium pipes to allow the inhalation of cocaine-based substances. All at the expense of the citizens of Bologna. A veritable induction to drug use and addiction. This is a reason to be proud of Giorgia Meloni, her government, and the difference that distinguishes us from the left. We will never tire of repeating it: drugs suck!". This was stated by the leader of Fratelli d'Italia in the Chamber of Deputies, Galeazzo Bignami.