TY - JOUR
T1 - Operation red box
T2 - A pilot project of needle and syringe drop boxes for injection drug users in east Baltimore
AU - Riley, Elise
AU - Beilenson, Peter
AU - Vlahov, David
AU - Smith, Laura
AU - Koenig, Matthew
AU - Jones, T. Stephen
AU - Doherty, Meg
PY - 1998/7/1
Y1 - 1998/7/1
N2 - We assessed the acceptability and the use of a community-based needle and syringe disposal project designed to serve injection drug users. In June 1996, three surplus U.S. mail collection boxes were painted red and used as syringe and needle drop boxes in locations with high drug use in East Baltimore. Acceptance of the drop boxes was measured by focus groups of residents, drug users, and police, held before and after project implementation. Use was measured by weekly counts of needles recovered from the red boxes. A sample of all deposited needles was randomly chosen for needle washing and subsequent HIV antibody testing. Community impact was measured by systematic surveys of needles discarded on public sidewalks, in areas with and areas without drop boxes. Before implementation, members of focus groups expressed concerns that drop boxes could convey mixed messages to youth (e.g., seeming to condone drug use), might result in increased loitering, and could further community stigmatization. After project implementation, all focus groups expressed support of project expansion. In the first 10 months, 2971 needles were collected. Of 156 needles tested, 10.9% were positive for HIV antibody. Needle counts on the street showed no significant change in red box areas compared with control areas. In this pilot project, red boxes were accepted by the community and drug users. Police officers also used the boxes to dispose of confiscated needles. Although limited in the number of drop boxes and follow-up time, this pilot project shows promise as a community-based method of safe needle disposal.
AB - We assessed the acceptability and the use of a community-based needle and syringe disposal project designed to serve injection drug users. In June 1996, three surplus U.S. mail collection boxes were painted red and used as syringe and needle drop boxes in locations with high drug use in East Baltimore. Acceptance of the drop boxes was measured by focus groups of residents, drug users, and police, held before and after project implementation. Use was measured by weekly counts of needles recovered from the red boxes. A sample of all deposited needles was randomly chosen for needle washing and subsequent HIV antibody testing. Community impact was measured by systematic surveys of needles discarded on public sidewalks, in areas with and areas without drop boxes. Before implementation, members of focus groups expressed concerns that drop boxes could convey mixed messages to youth (e.g., seeming to condone drug use), might result in increased loitering, and could further community stigmatization. After project implementation, all focus groups expressed support of project expansion. In the first 10 months, 2971 needles were collected. Of 156 needles tested, 10.9% were positive for HIV antibody. Needle counts on the street showed no significant change in red box areas compared with control areas. In this pilot project, red boxes were accepted by the community and drug users. Police officers also used the boxes to dispose of confiscated needles. Although limited in the number of drop boxes and follow-up time, this pilot project shows promise as a community-based method of safe needle disposal.
KW - HIV
KW - Intravenous drug use
KW - Needle disposal
KW - Needle exchange program
KW - Substance abuse
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032125429&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0032125429&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00042560-199802001-00020
DO - 10.1097/00042560-199802001-00020
M3 - Article
C2 - 9663634
AN - SCOPUS:0032125429
SN - 1077-9450
VL - 18
SP - S120-S125
JO - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology
JF - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology
IS - SUPPL.
ER -