Maine House lawmakers throw support behind syringe exchange and disposal programs

Lawmakers in the Maine House of Representatives advanced legislation Thursday expanding access to needle exchange programs and funding proper disposal of syringe litter.

Syringe service programs are nonprofits or municipalities certified by the state to hand out clean syringes in exchange for used ones as a method of harm reduction for those impacted with substance use disorder. The two bills — LD 1078 and LD 1738 — would allow the programs to expand their locations within the county they are certified to operate in and create a biohazard waste disposal program within the Maine Department of Health and Human Services that would offer grants to community organizations that incentivize proper disposal of used syringes. 

Both passed the House after some debate with critics questioning the need to expand these programs, which are often blamed for creating excessive syringe litter. 

“The potential for improperly discarded needles in parks, on sidewalks or in public bathrooms is not hypothetical. It is a reality in cities that have expanded similar programs without adequate controls,” said Rep. Kathy Javner (R-Chester).

Proponents of the bills pointed to support among medical providers and harm reduction experts, who have vouched for the programs’ effectiveness in preventing disease transmission. They also said the proposed grant program would incentivize safe needle disposal and allow communities to come up with their own solutions to syringe litter disposal, with partial funding from the state.

“We know that when people have access to safe disposal, we all benefit with the right tools, we can reduce the risk of disease transmission, protect public spaces and build trust across divides,” said Rep. Julie McCabe (D-Lewiston). “We do not need to choose between the health of our communities and the health of individuals. We can have both.”

Rep. Ambureen Rana (D-Bangor) pointed to Portland’s needle buyback program, which the city estimates has helped reduce syringe litter by 76% and resulted in a 58% increase in used syringe return. Participants can earn 10 cents per used needle they turn in, with a weekly cap of 200 syringes per person.

Both bills will be taken up by the Senate next. The grant program would cost the state roughly $120,000 for the first two years for a new position to oversee the program, in addition to an annual allocation of $500 to establish the fund. 

The syringe service expansion is estimated to cost roughly $426,000 a year, which would go to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Even if both bills win the support of the Legislature, funding may still prove to be an obstacle as the budget committee is wrestling with how to address a significant deficit.

Earlier this session, lawmakers on the health committee rejected a bill that would have severely limited the number of clean syringes that certified programs can hand out, backing the state’s current, more flexible policy. 

In 2022, Maine adopted new rules that allow participants to bring in just one used syringe to receive 100 clean ones. The state health department also allows participants to receive up to 100 syringes, even if they don’t bring any used ones in, at the discretion of the provider.

Correction: An earlier version of this story said the bills had also passed the Maine Senate.