Prevalence and Correlates of Syringe Disposal Box Use in a Philadelphia Neighborhood with High Levels of Public Drug Injection. (6th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Roth, Alexis M.; Mitchell, Allison K.; Mukherjee, Rohit; Scheim, Ayden I.; Ward, Kathleen M.; Lankenau, Stephen E.
• Is Part Of: Substance use & misuse. Volume 56:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 668
• Page End: 673
• Publication Date: 2021-02-06
• Subjects: Syringe disposal boxes -- syringes -- drug litter; Narcotic habit -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Behavior, Addictive -- Periodicals; Sustance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2021.1887252
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1082-6084

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, USA) is facing an unprecedented public health crisis due to fentanyl use. To combat drug-related litter, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health installed 7 public syringe disposal boxes (SDB) in Kensington, the neighborhood most impacted by the opioid crisis and home to a syringe exchange. Methods: We used street- and business-intercepts to recruit residents (N=358) and business owners/staff (N=78) who completed a brief survey with two binary items measuring observing and using SDB. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors independently associated with SDB observance and use. Results: 78% (340/436) observed SDB and 34.1% (116/340) had ever used SDB among those who had seen them. Unstably housed persons had 4.3 times greater odds of observing SDB (Adjusted odds ratio [aOR= 4.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.56, 11.82) and had 2.5 times greater odds of using SDB (aOR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.33, 4.74) as did people who use opioids (aOR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.45, 4.72). Among individuals reporting opioid use who also saw SDB (n=123), those who were unstably housed were more likely to use SDB than those with stable housing (67.8% vs 45.3%, p=.012). Conclusion: These results suggest Kensington residents, especially those who are unstably housed, use SDB once they see them in the neighborhood.