‘IQ of a garden pest!’ Biden sparks outrage over $30m ‘safe smoking kits’ for drug addicts

The programme, approved by the Health and Human Services Department (HHS), is designed to tackle “racial inequity” by funding non-profit organisations and local governments, with part of the money being used to buy “safe smoking kits” for drug addicts.

According to the HHS the kits could include pipes for smoking crack cocaine and crystal methamphetamine.

The crack cocaine epidemic in the US has disproportionately affected black people since it began in the 1980s.

However, the plan has come under fire from opponents who believe it will contribute to rising crime levels and have accused the President of “wokeism” by viewing criminals as victims.

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy said to Fox News: “Unless you have the IQ of a garden pest, you know you cannot order a civilised society based on that worldview.”

He also accused the President of dismissing the needs of American citizens “unless they’re part of some minority group that he deems worthy”.

Applicants for the programme who help “underserved communities” such as ethnic minority or LGBTQ+ groups are given priority for funding.

It is hoped the kits will reduce the risk of infection among drug users, as they will not be smoking out of glass pipes which cause cuts that can become infected.

Smoking substances is also far less risky than injecting them.

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There were an estimated 100,306 deaths caused by drug overdose in the USA in the year ending April 2021, an increase of 28.5 percent from the previous year.

The kits could also include other supplies for tackling drug problems, such as testing kits, overdose reversal medication and medication lock boxes.

Some American cities have already rolled out similar measures – San Francisco and Seattle have trialled distributing crack cocaine pipe kits.