2016/04/13 by Carolyn A. Day, Carolyn Day, Bethany White +2 · 1 citation
Health Professions · Medicine · #HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk #Homelessness and Social Issues #Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
paper · doi:10.1111/dar.12397
openalex publication_date 2016/04/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
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].