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Rick Bennett on Drugs

 

 


Syringe programs works to bring people in for recovery

Q: On Maine's needle exchange program: What would you do to reduce discarded needles and address the underlying addiction problem?

CHARLES: Giving away 4 million needles is not the answer. We need to get residential treatment, then to a halfway house, and have a business community favorable to people in recovery so they can get a job and support themselves.

PINGREE: I do believe very deeply in treatment and recovery. In the last four years [we have reduced] the number of overdose deaths. We can't go back to the LePage days where we don't believe in treatment.

BENNETT: The syringes services program only works when it is used as a means of bringing people and to receive services that they need to get them to recover from their addictions, attempt recovery, and deal with other issues. I support that when it is used in that fashion. but I also heard from a lot of leaders who are concerned about needles showing up on riverside, near park benches, and near park benches, in public spaces.

Source: C-SPAN transcript on 2026 Maine Gubernatorial race , Oct 1, 2026

Other governors on Drugs: Rick Bennett on other issues:
ME Gubernatorial:
Angus King
Ed Crockett
Hannah Pingree
Janet Mills
Paul LePage
Robert Charles
Shenna Bellows
Troy Jackson
ME Senatorial:
Angus King
David Costello
Demi Kouzounas
Graham Platner
Janet Mills
Susan Collins
Troy Jackson

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Page last updated: Oct 11, 2026; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org