New Strategies Are Needed to Stop Overdose Fatalities: The Case for Supervised Injection Facilities

Impact of a Homeless Encampment Closure on Crime Complaints in the Bronx, New York City, 2017: Implications for Municipal Policy

Purpose

As part of COVID-19 control policy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised local jurisdictions to permit the formation of homeless encampments to prevent community disease spread. This new federal public health guidance is in conflict with existing police policies in many jurisdictions to raze or evict homeless encampments upon discovery. However, no empirical research on homeless encampment policy actions exists.

Methods

This study utilized interrupted time series to estimate the impact of the 2017 closure of "the Hole"-a longstanding encampment of homeless people who use drugs in the Bronx, New York City-on crime complaints. Daily crime complaints originating from public spaces within 1 mile of the encampment were captured during the 30-day periods before and after closure.

Results

Closure was associated with no short-term changesin complaints [IRR=1.01; 95% CI (0.81-1.27)], with daily complaints remaining at baseline levels during the post-closure period [IRR 0.99; 95% CI (0.98-1.00)].

Discussion

Findings preliminarily suggest that the presence of a homeless encampment may not have been associated with increased levels of crime in the neighborhood where it was located. Future research is necessary to understand the health and social impacts of homeless encampments and inform municipal policymakers.

HIV and Substance Use Disorder: Role of the HIV Physician

The ongoing syndemic of substance use disorder and human immunodeficiency virus infection threatens progress made in preventing new infections and improving outcomes among those infected. To address this challenge effectively, human immunodeficiency virus physicians must take an increased role in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of substance use disorders. Such treatment decreases human immunodeficiency virus risk behaviors and improves human immunodeficiency virus and substance use disorder-related outcomes. An effective response to this syndemic requires increased access to adjuvant interventions and a radical movement away from the current stigmatization and criminalization of those suffering from substance use disorders.