research article Effectiveness of a Care-Based Harm Reduction Program, Take Kare Safe Space, on Reducing Alcohol-Related Harm in Sydney, Australia
Anthony Shakeshaft1, Christopher M Doran2*, Phillip Wadds3, Dam Anh Tran1
1National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
2Cluster for Resilience and Well-being, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Level 4, Queensland, Australia
3School of Law, Society & Criminology, Faculty of Law & Justice, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
*Corresponding author: Christopher M Doran, Cluster for Resilience and Well-being, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Level 4, 160 Ann Street Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia
Received Date: 03 March, 2023
Accepted Date: 15 March, 2023
Published Date: 20 March, 2023
Citation: Shakeshaft A, Doran CM, Wadds P, Tran DA (2023) Effectiveness of a Care-Based Harm Reduction Program, Take Kare Safe Space, on Reducing Alcohol-Related Harm in Sydney, Australia. J Community Med Public Health 7: 295. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29011/2577-2228.100295
Abstract
Objectives: Take Kare Safe Space (TKSS) was implemented in three sites in Sydney, Australia, as part of a citywide plan to address alcohol-related violence. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of TKSS on the number of non-domestic incidents, Emergency Department (ED) admissions, and ambulances dispatches. Methods. Time series data was collected for the period January 2009-December 2018 from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, NSW Ambulance Service, and a major trauma hospital. Generalized linear models were used to specify segmented regression for each outcome. Results: From December 2014 to April 2019, 66,455 people received support across the three safe spaces. Program users were mostly male (62%) and aged 18-25-years (66%). Following implementation of TKSS, there was a relative increase in non-domestic related assaults within all TKSS site boundaries compared to sites outside of TKSS boundaries (p=0.082, p=0.01 and p=0.012). There was a non-significant increase in the number of assault-related ambulance dispatches (2.5%, p=0.617), and non-significant decreases in the number of drug and alcohol-related ambulance dispatches (0.52%, p=0.876), head injury-related ED admissions (1.92%, p=0.561) and alcohol-related ED admissions (1.8% p=0.561). Conclusions: Further rigorous evaluations of the impact of safe space interventions on alcohol related harm are needed.
Keywords: Alcohol-related harm; Harm reduction; Entertainment precinct