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Prevalence and Correlates of Syringe Disposal Box Use in a Philadelphia Neighborhood with High Levels of Public Drug Injection
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Prevalence and Correlates of Syringe Disposal Box Use in a Philadelphia Neighborhood with High Levels of Public Drug Injection

Alexis M. Roth, Allison K. Mitchell, Rohit Mukherjee, Ayden I. Scheim, Kathleen M. Ward and Stephen E. Lankenau
Substance use & misuse, v 56(5), pp 668-673
06 Feb 2021
PMID: 33663334

Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine Psychiatry Psychology Science & Technology Social Sciences Substance Abuse
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.

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Web of Science research areas
Psychiatry
Psychology
Substance Abuse
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