Harm reduction approaches are important ways of connecting with people who use drugs to provide tools and information that help create positive change and can save lives. It focuses on areas including overdose prevention, safer drug use, syringe access and disposal.
General Guidance
- National Harm Reduction Coalition
- Vulnerability Assessment for Opioid Overdoses and Bloodborne Infections Associated with Non-Sterile Injection - Drug Use in Maine (PDF)
- Syringe Service Programs in Maine
Naloxone
Naloxone, also known as Narcan®, can counteract the life-threatening impact of an opioid overdose. It's not available as a nasal spray or an injection. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and can restore normal breathing. Find Naloxone and learn more about how to use it and why it may be good to have it on hand.
Community Sharps Disposal
This Community Sharps Disposal Toolkit (PDF) [LINK to file in folder] provides an overview useful information on topics including how to develop a community sharps disposal program, key terms, and SSPs in Maine. It is a great tool for anyone interested in safe sharps disposal.
Need to safely discard syringes? Contact any of the syringe service programs listed below for disposal. You can also drop of syringes at any community sharps disposal site in Lewiston (PDF), Portland (PDF), Westbrook (PDF), or Bangor. Get more information on safe disposal in Maine.
There is also guidance for Safe Disposal of Household Medical Sharps.
Syringe Services
Syringe Service Annual Reports:
Certified Syringe Service Programs
Please contact one of our partners to learn more about syringe service programs, HIV and Hepatitis C testing, and other services.
Need to safely discard syringes? You can contact any of the syringe service programs below for disposal. Additionally, if you can drop of syringes at any of the community sharps disposal sites in Lewiston (PDF), Portland (PDF), Westbrook (PDF), or Bangor. Get more information on safe disposal in Maine.
Reference this Community Sharps Disposal Toolkit (PDF) for more information.
| Androscoggin County | ||
Spurwink Community Recovery Harm Reduction Services | 1155 Lisbon Street Lewiston, ME 04240 | (207)-344-1934 |
| Church of Safe Injection website: www.churchofsafeinjection.org Call ahead for hours | 195 Main Street Lewiston, ME 04240 | (207) 241-2537 |
| Cumberland County | ||
| Commonspace Website: https://www.commonspacemaine.org | 103 India Street Portland, ME 04101 | (207) 773-1956 |
| Portland Public Health Syringe Service Program ("The Exchange") Website: www.portlandmaine.gov Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-4pm | 39 Forest Ave. Portland, ME 04101 | (207) 756-8022 |
| Church of Safe Injection website: www.churchofsafeinjection.org Call ahead for hours | 800 Main Street, Westbrook, ME 04092 | (207) 241-2537 |
| Franklin County | ||
Franklin County Syringe Exchange 11am-3pm | 105 Mt, Blue Circle, Suite 1, Farmington ME 04938
| (207)-778-1015 |
Franklin County Syringe Exchange 11am-3pm
| 78 North Main Street, Strong, Maine 04983
| (207)-778-1015 |
| Kennebec County | ||
| MaineGeneral Website: www.mainegeneral.org Hours: MTuTh: 8:30-4:30p, W: 11-4:30p, F-12:30-4:30p | 9 Green Street, 2nd Floor Augusta, ME 04330 | (207) 621-3768 |
| MaineGeneral Website: www.mainegeneral.org Hours: MW: 8:30-4:30p, TuTh: 12:30-4:30p, F: 10-4:30p | Thayer Center for Health 149 North Street, Terrace Level, Room 0243 Waterville, ME 04901 | (207) 861-5288 |
| Oxford County | ||
| Maine Access Points Website: www.maineaccesspoints.org Call ahead for hours | 218 Penobscot St, Rumford, ME 04276 | (207) 319-8284 |
| Church of Safe Injection website: www.churchofsafeinjection.org Call ahead for hours | Rumford | (207) 241-2537 |
| Penobscot County | ||
| Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness Website: https://wabanakiphw.org/departments/healing-and-recovery/harm-reduction-services/ Monday - Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. | 157 Park St Suite 23 Bangor, ME 04401 | (207) 299-6378 |
Needlepoint Sanctuary Website: Office @ UU Church, 120 Park St, Bangor 04401 | Services @ Camp Hope in Bangor | 207-307-7588
|
| Piscataquis County | ||
Needlepoint Sanctuary Website: | 38 E Main St, Milo, ME | (207) 505-1510 |
| Washington County | ||
| Maine Access Points website: www.maineaccesspoints.org Call ahead for hours. | Waterfront Pier, Calais, ME 04619 | (207) 319-0094 |
Maine Access Points Thursdays 12pm-4pm. | 25 Main Street Unit #15, Machias, ME 04654 | (207) 319-0094 |
| York County | ||
Maine Access Points Fridays 11am-2pm | 840 Main St, Sanford, ME 04073 | (207) 370-4782 |
Certification Application
To operate a syringe service program (SSP) in Maine, the person or entity wishing to operate the program must be certified by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The Syringe Service Programs Application Guidance (PDF) will assist with this application process. If you have questions, contact the Maine CDC at 800-821-5821 and ask to speak with someone in the Infectious Disease Prevention Program regarding Syringe Service Programs.