This week, the Washington Free Beacon reported that President Joe Bidens administration plans to fund the distribution of crack pipes to drug users in an effort to advance racial equity. The report from the right-leaning outlet quickly became official GOP messaging.

Biden crime policy: Crack pipes for all. What could go wrong? Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tweeted.

Nothing says Democrat Priorities like raising the price of insulin on Day 1 but making crack pipes free, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) added.

That message soon went viral. Other news outlets ran with the headline that the Biden administration was funding programs to hand out crack pipes. But the driving narrative has been misleading, dangerous and tinged with racist dog whistles.

The Department of Health and Human Services recently drafted a grant application for its harm reduction program, which is part of an effort to reduce infections spread through drug use and other impacts of drug addiction. The grant would provide funds over three years for services including community-based overdose prevention programs, syringe services programs and overdose education programs, as well as equipment and supplies to enhance harm reduction efforts.

The grant description stated that funding may go toward safe smoking kits/supplies which could include crack supplies, as Republicans have said but thats hardly the focus. And the cynical GOP misinformation leaves out why medical experts endorse such an approach.

The idea of giving drug users safe smoking kits and supplies is a key component of harm reduction, an evidence-backed approach that tries to meet people where theyre at, according to the National Harm Reduction Coalition .

Kassandra Frederique, the executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a national nonprofit that advocates for drug law reform, likened the strategy to approaches people are more familiar with, like using condoms for sexual health and wellness.

What research has consistently shown us is that when we give people access to safer smoking equipment, its resulted in increased health risk awareness for people that are using drugs, Frederique told HuffPost.

People are using drugs. Its really important for us to give people information and educate folks about ways they can moderate their drug use or reduce the risk that can happen with some kinds of drug use, she explained.

Yes, glass crack pipes are sometimes included in harm reduction kits. So are syringes and condoms. On top of that, these kits are already distributed in various parts of the country.