Carolyn A Day1, Bethany White2, Paul S Haber2,3. 1. Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. carolyn.day@sydney.edu.au. 2. Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. 3. Drug Health Services, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Needle and syringe automatic dispensing machines (ADM) aim to increase needle/syringe distribution to people who inject drugs. ADM implementation has been met with community concern about potential perceived increases in crime and drug use and that they will attract non-resident drug users-the 'honey-pot effect'. In April 2013, an ADM commenced operation in inner-city Sydney. We assessed the impact of the ADM on crime and examined its use by non-resident drug users (the honey-pot effect). DESIGN AND METHODS: Fixed-site needle and syringe program (n = 207) and ADM clients (n = 55) were surveyed to determine whether they lived within 1 km of the ADM. Police-recorded offences between January 2012 and March 2014 across six crime categories for the local and surrounding areas were assessed for trend to measure impact on crime. RESULTS: The majority (78%) of needle and syringe program clients reported residing within 1 km of the service. Most (95%) ADM users were fixed-site service clients. The 2 year trend for crime categories remained stable or decreased, except for fraud, which increased significantly (P < 0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Automatic dispensing machine users were largely clients of the existing fixed-site service and lived locally. There was no apparent concurrent increase in crime or a honey-pot effect. It is important that services continue to be aware of community concerns and respond to them appropriately.[Day CA, White B, Haber PS. The impact of an automatic syringe dispensing machine in inner-city Sydney, Australia: No evidence of a 'honey-pot' effect. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:637-643].
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Needle and syringe automatic dispensing machines (ADM) aim to increase needle/syringe distribution to people who inject drugs. ADM implementation has been met with community concern about potential perceived increases in crime and drug use and that they will attract non-resident drug users-the 'honey-pot effect'. In April 2013, an ADM commenced operation in inner-city Sydney. We assessed the impact of the ADM on crime and examined its use by non-resident drug users (the honey-pot effect). DESIGN AND METHODS: Fixed-site needle and syringe program (n = 207) and ADM clients (n = 55) were surveyed to determine whether they lived within 1 km of the ADM. Police-recorded offences between January 2012 and March 2014 across six crime categories for the local and surrounding areas were assessed for trend to measure impact on crime. RESULTS: The majority (78%) of needle and syringe program clients reported residing within 1 km of the service. Most (95%) ADM users were fixed-site service clients. The 2 year trend for crime categories remained stable or decreased, except for fraud, which increased significantly (P < 0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Automatic dispensing machine users were largely clients of the existing fixed-site service and lived locally. There was no apparent concurrent increase in crime or a honey-pot effect. It is important that services continue to be aware of community concerns and respond to them appropriately.[Day CA, White B, Haber PS. The impact of an automatic syringe dispensing machine in inner-city Sydney, Australia: No evidence of a 'honey-pot' effect. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:637-643].
Authors: Heidi Coupland; Charles Henderson; Janice Pritchard-Jones; Shih-Chi Kao; Sinead Sheils; Regina Nagy; Martin O'Donnell; Paul S Haber; Carolyn A Day Journal: Harm Reduct J Date: 2022-05-28
Authors: N Jia Ahmad; Sean T Allen; Rebecca Hamilton White; Kristin E Schneider; Allison O'Rourke; Michelle Perdue; Charles Babcock; Michael E Kilkenny; Susan G Sherman Journal: Harm Reduct J Date: 2021-02-18