Kentucky is one of the states hard hit by the recent opioid epidemic. According to the state-released Overdose Fatality Report of 2017, Kentucky ranked the fourth highest state of fatality related to opioid overdose, recording 64.6 deaths per 100,000 people.

The state was also battling residual damage of the opioid crisis━abandoned syringes in public facilities. Many workers were being deployed to the scene to pick up the contaminated syringes to protect people from getting fatally infected, but they were only armed with insufficient protective gears like thin latex gloves and tongs. It is reported that as many as one third of the responders called to the overdose scene, including police officers, had been injured by the abandoned syringes.

Students in Ashland Middle School of Boyd County, Kentucky, gathered to solve this issue. Together, they developed a handheld needle collector to safely pick up and dispose of hypodermic needles.

Michael Polley, a teacher at Ashland Middle School always encouraged his students to apply what they have learned into real life. With his active support, students created a 2-inch-wide plastic box with a saw-toothed tongs longer than syringes. By placing the box on the needle and gently squeezing the handle, it allowed a person to pick up contaminated syringes without physical contact. This simple mechanism could be used in crime scenes for collecting evidence as well.

He also guided his students to incorporate their coding skills to build an online database system that local community members can access to learn more about the epidemic and report hazardous needles found in public areas. The accumulated information will help map the areas of frequent dangers, making it easier to deploy resources and responders.

There was also Troy Patrick, a School Resource Officer(SRO) of Ashland Middle School, behind this idea. He sparked motivation of students after he explained to them that first responders are facing dangers when they come upon contaminated needles, including exposure to HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and leftover drug residue.

“This is something that could be implemented nationwide,” Officer Patrick said, excited by the students’ achievement. “It could be used in every ambulance and every police department in the nation to protect the health and the safety of the first responders.”

The students were recognized for their innovative impact and contribution to the community, receiving the National Grand Prize of Community Choice Award in Solve for Tomorrow 2018.