A quaint Maine city known for its historic downtown and family-run businesses is at the center of a growing controversy after a local church opened its doors to a needle exchange program that critics say has left the streets littered with syringes.
Program Details and Support
Park Street United Methodist Church, located in the heart of downtown Bangor, began hosting a six-month pilot program in February that allows the harm reduction nonprofit Needlepoint Sanctuary to distribute clean syringes and provide addiction-related services inside the church. Supporters say the initiative is a life-saving response to overlapping crises involving homelessness, substance abuse and a worsening HIV outbreak in Penobscot County.
Business Owners' Concerns
But nearby business owners say the program has turned one of Bangor's most charming neighborhoods into a magnet for drug activity. 'It is starting to affect the businesses downtown when people are cancelling appointments because the front of their business is littered with needles,' local real estate broker and hotel owner Tricia Quirk said during a recent city council meeting. Quirk owns the nearby Tarratine Inn and Tarratine Restaurant, both located near the church. The debate has become a flashpoint in Bangor as residents question whether the city's compassionate approach to addiction is helping those in need or enabling destructive behavior. 'What is the line between helping and enabling?' Quirk asked.
Resident and Recovering Addict Perspectives
Quirk was not alone in voicing concern. 'Honestly, one needle is too many and it does pose a serious safety issue for the population as a whole,' said Brian Cattell, a recovering addict who told city councilors he has been sober for 16 years and now works in the addiction and mental health field. 'I'm not against harm reduction and I'm not against providing people the opportunity for safe use, but it needs to be done responsibly with clear boundaries,' Cattell added. Scott Parady, another resident who said he supports harm reduction, argued that the program should operate as a strict one-for-one exchange. 'I am definitely a harm reduction guy, but we need to have a needle exchange that's exchange needle for needle,' Parady said. Local filmmaker Michael Norton, who said he has lived in Bangor for seven years, accused those distributing syringes of 'trashing Bangor with them.'
Church and Health Officials Respond
Church leaders acknowledge the program has led to increased foot traffic and disruptions in the area, but say the public health benefits are undeniable. Since the pilot began, Needlepoint Sanctuary says it has conducted 852 service encounters, distributed 457 wound-care kits, served more than 2,500 tacos, and helped reverse 133 overdoses using naloxone. Healthcare workers say the program has also brought more people into treatment. Maine Family Planning nurse practitioner Ellen Taraschi said the syringe exchange is critical to slowing the spread of HIV. 'That is how we combat this HIV outbreak,' Taraschi said. 'It's a public good.'
Participant Experiences
Participants say the church provides more than clean needles. Many also receive HIV testing, hepatitis C treatment, wound care and medications such as PrEP, which helps prevent HIV infection. Others say the church offers something they cannot find elsewhere: a sense of belonging. For years, Park Street United Methodist Church has partnered with Needlepoint Sanctuary to host weekly outreach events known as 'Muffin Monday' and 'Taco Tuesday.' The gatherings offer free food, medical care and a chance for people struggling with addiction and homelessness to connect with others facing similar challenges. Participants say the events function as an informal support group, bringing together active drug users, people in recovery and healthcare workers in a judgment-free setting.
'A lot of us don't have emotional support,' participant Tamara Mailman told the Bangor Daily News. Mailman said spending a few hours at Taco Tuesday allows her to talk with people who understand what she is going through, including others who are sober and working to rebuild their lives. Supporters say those relationships are just as important as the syringe exchange itself, helping participants feel less isolated and more likely to seek treatment.
Future of the Program
Still, some residents remain unconvinced as Bangor struggles to address visible homelessness and drug use downtown. Church council chair Zach Falcon said congregation members are 'very proud and energized by the public health successes,' while also recognizing the concerns raised by neighbors. The church plans to vote in early fall on whether to continue the needle exchange after the six-month trial ends.
