Alpha 2.0
Login Register
» Articles » PMID: 10846512

The Effect of a Needle Exchange Program on Numbers of Discarded Needles: a 2-year Follow-up

Overview
Journal Am J Public Health
Specialty Public Health
Date 2000 Jun 10
PMID 10846512
Citations 23
Authors
M C Doherty
B Junge
P Rathouz
R S Garfein
E Riley
D Vlahov
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Objectives: This study estimates the quantity and geographic distribution of discarded needles on the streets of Baltimore, Md, during the 2 years after a needle exchange program opened.

Methods: Thirty-two city blocks were randomly sampled. Counts were taken of the number of syringes, drug vials, and bottles before the needle exchange program opened and then at 6 periodic intervals for 2 years after the program opened. Nonparametric and generalized estimating equation models were used to examine change over time.

Results: Two years after the needle exchange program opened, there was a significant decline in the overall quantity of discarded needles relative to that of drug vials and bottles (background trash). The block mean of number of needles per 100 trash items was 2.42 before the program opened and 1.30 2 years later (mean within-block change = -0.028, P < .05). There was no difference in the number of discarded needles by distance from the program site.

Conclusions: These data suggest that this needle exchange program did not increase the number of distribution of discarded needles.

Citing Articles

Use of Syringe Service Programs in Rural vs Urban Maine: A Harm-Reduction Study.

Miller L, Murray K, Branch E, Thakarar K J Maine Med Cent. 2024; 6(1).

PMID: 39118865 PMC: 11309026. DOI: 10.46804/2641-2225.1153.

Harm reduction and recovery services support (HRRSS) to mitigate the opioid overdose epidemic in a rural community.

Heo M, Beachler T, Sivaraj L, Tsai H, Chea A, Patel A Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2023; 18(1):23.

PMID: 37076898 PMC: 10114389. DOI: 10.1186/s13011-023-00532-3.

Factors associated with receptive injection equipment sharing among people who inject drugs: findings from a multistate study at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Allen S, Schneider K, Morris M, Rouhani S, Harris S, Saloner B Harm Reduct J. 2023; 20(1):18.

PMID: 36793041 PMC: 9930060. DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00746-5.

Law enforcement and syringe services program implementation in rural counties in Kentucky: a qualitative exploration.

Allen S, Danforth S, Grieb S, Glick J, Harris S, Tomko C Harm Reduct J. 2022; 19(1):109.

PMID: 36180853 PMC: 9526275. DOI: 10.1186/s12954-022-00684-8.

Syringe Coverage Among People Who Inject Drugs in West Virginia, USA.

Allen S, White R, ORourke A, Schneider K, Weir B, Lucas G AIDS Behav. 2021; 25(10):3377-3385.

PMID: 33886011 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03247-3.

References
1.
Broadhead R, van Hulst Y, Heckathorn D . The impact of a needle exchange's closure. Public Health Rep. 1999; 114(5):439-47. PMC: 1308516. DOI: 10.1093/phr/114.5.439. View
2.
Zeger S, Liang K, Albert P . Models for longitudinal data: a generalized estimating equation approach. Biometrics. 1988; 44(4):1049-60. View
3.
Macalino G, Springer K, Rahman Z, Vlahov D, Jones T . Community-based programs for safe disposal of used needles and syringes. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1998; 18 Suppl 1:S111-9. DOI: 10.1097/00042560-199802001-00019. View
4.
Doherty M, Garfein R, Vlahov D, Junge B, Rathouz P, Galai N . Discarded needles do not increase soon after the opening of a needle exchange program. Am J Epidemiol. 1997; 145(8):730-7. DOI: 10.1093/aje/145.8.730. View
5.
Oliver K, Friedman S, Maynard H, Magnuson L, Des Jarlais D . Impact of a needle exchange program on potentially infectious syringes in public places. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (1988). 1992; 5(5):534-5. DOI: 10.1097/00126334-199205000-00021. View