Analysis of Interventions for Safe Disposal of Needles Within the Lake City Community

Mario Mata

Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Thesis

College/School

College of Nursing

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Program Concentration

PCNP & AGNP

Abstract

"Needle littering from IV drug use has been an issue for Lake City, Washington for quite some time. Needle littering is defined as discarding needles and syringes in public spaces after IV drug use. This littering poses a risk for blood borne disease transmission such as HIV and hepatitis after accidental exposure. Currently Lake City has very few methods to safely dispose of these needles. A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity, and Threats (SWOT) analysis was conducted to create a proposal for Lake City to reduce needle littering after IV drug use. Needle littering tends to be concentrated in certain areas we called ""hotspots."" The three interventions reviewed in the literature were Outdoor Disposal Sites, Indoor Disposal Sites, and Needle Exchange Program. We are proposing Outdoor Disposal Sites as the most effective way for the community to reduce needle litter because they are the most effective, easy to use, affordable means of needle disposal after drug use. They are also available outdoor 24 hours a day. The city of Seattle already has an Outdoor Disposal Site model in place and so a similar approach could be implemented in Lake City. Lake City Community members will need to come to a consensus to successfully implement the proposed intervention for harm reduction. These include agreeing to implement Outdoor Disposal Sites, refraining from arresting people who injected drugs who access these services, and continuing to fund and maintain these services long term after implementation."

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