Thread by @CurtisHouck

JACQUI TIME on @PatrickHauf's reporting: "HHS...put out a statement clarifying...reports that crack pipes...would not be part of the safe smoking kits...But can you clarify...were they never a part of the kit? Or were they removed in response to this reporting[?]"

Psaki on @PatrickHauf's @FreeBeacon story about crack pipes: "They were never a part of the kit. It was inaccurate reporting and we wanted to put out information to make that clear."

.@JacquiHeinrich: "What is in the Safe Smoking kit?

Psaki: It "may contain alcohol swabs, lip balm, other materials to promote hygiene and reduce the transmission of diseases like HIV and hepatitis....What we're really talking about...is steps...to address the opioid epidemic"

More Psaki condemning the @FreeBeacon story from @PatrickHauf: "There was inaccurate information out there...This policy is focused on harm reduction strategies, including prioritizing the use of fentanyl test strips and clean syringes...These programs are intended to save lives"

.@JacquiHeinrich: "[D]oes the administration support any effort then to distribute drug paraphernalia like the crack pipes were were hearing about?"

Psaki: "We -- the statement makes clear we don't support federal funding, direct or indirect for pipes."

.@JacquiHeinrich: "On the safe injection sites...the DOJ is evaluating, was this an ask from the WH that they review that policy b/c...for years, the DOJ has opposed efforts to open safe injection sites?

Psaki says the WH is "committed" to "address[ing] the opioid crisis"

.@JacquiHeinrich: "What would you say to critics...concerned...the Biden administration is somehow encouraging illegal drug use?"

Psaki says "we're losing" a "life every 5 mins to overdose," so there's no "time for political games" and rejecting "harm reduction programs" (7/7)