We deserve a Lewiston with fewer overdoses, cleaner public spaces, and more pathways to treatment & recovery.
Vote No on Lewiston’s Question 1.
Lewiston’s Question 1 would restrict syringe service programs’ work,
a key part of Lewiston’s public health response to the opioid epidemic.
Syringe service programs (SSPs) are one evidence-based tool that helps reduce disease transmission, increase safe syringe disposal, and connect people to treatment, recovery, healthcare, other services.
Nearly 30 years of research shows that SSPs are safe, effective, and cost-saving. They do not increase illegal drug use or crime, and they play a critical role in reducing the transmission of viral hepatitis, HIV, and other infections.
Vote NO on Lewiston’s Question 1 if you believe…
Overdose prevention education is critical
We cannot add more burdens on our first responders and hospitals
We must use best practices and evidence-based approaches to solve the opioid crisis
Taxpayers should not have to pay for increasing healthcare costs due to preventable diseases
No family should lose a loved one to an overdose
People in Lewiston deserve more pathways to treatment and recovery, not fewer
We all deserve safe and clean public spaces and proven solutions to syringe waste
We must do what we can to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like HIV, hep-B, and hep-C
Join us! Vote No on 1 on Tuesday, Nov. 3!
We all want a cleaner, safer Lewiston, fewer overdoses, less disease, and real pathways to treatment for people struggling with addiction.
Question 1 won't get us there and it would restrict the proven tools that do.
Question 1 would:
Require a strict one-for-one syringe exchange.
Limit participants to 20 sterile syringes per day.
Require the provider to operate from one fixed location.
Ban all mobile syringe service units.
Q: Are Question 1 provisions based on best practices, research, or evidence?
A: No. Research shows that these limits will likely backfire, making Lewiston less safe and less clean.
What is a syringe service program (SSP)?
Syringe service programs (SSPs) are community and evidence-based prevention programs that provide many services, including:
Access to sterile syringes and disposal of used syringes.
Connections to substance use disorder treatment, recovery resources, healthcare, and other services.
Naloxone distribution (medication that reverses overdoses).
Infectious disease testing/referral to treatment, including HIV, hep-C, and hep-B.
Overdose prevention education.
How many SSPs are there in Lewiston?
Lewiston has one SSP: Spurwink Behavioral Health & Education Services.
Is Lewiston’s SSP regulated?
Yes. The State of Maine and the City of Lewiston both require high standards for Spurwink to be licensed and certified as an SSP.
We believe in strong oversight and regulations that improve the delivery of quality services and keep people safe.
However, the additional restrictions proposed in Question 1 are not based on best practices or research. They would restrict services and cut people off from the care they need. That means an increase in the spread of diseases, an increase in syringe litter, and people suffering on the streets instead of getting connected with health services.
We can reduce syringe waste and protect public health.
We can fix the syringe litter problem without further restricting SSPs.
When people can count on getting clean syringes and dropping off used ones nearby, whether at a drop-box or through mobile outreach, safe disposal becomes the easy choice.
Restricting access to SSPs increases health risks, but expanding disposal options improves both public safety and community health.
Here’s how we can make safe disposal
in Lewiston the easy choice.
VOTE NO ON QUESTION 1.
Expand the number of publicly accessible sharps disposal containers in areas where syringe litter is often found and ensure that all containers are routinely serviced.
Support or implement coordinated community cleanup efforts led by SSPs, neighborhood organizations, service clubs, and volunteer groups that address all types of litter, including syringe waste.
Provide all residents with clear guidance on where and how to safely dispose of syringes and report improperly discarded sharps by creating a dedicated website page with information and resources.
Develop a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a syringe redemption program modeled after Portland's successful approach in reducing syringe waste. This can be paid for using Opioid Response Funds.
Fund safe syringe disposal efforts using opioid settlement funds.
SSPs work.
Here’s what the research says.
SSPs help people enter treatment.
People who engage with SSPs are:
5x
3x
more likely to enter treatment.
more likely to stop injecting drugs.
SSPs reduce syringe litter.
34x
50%
38%
People who inject drugs were 34 times more likely to properly dispose of used syringes if they had access to a SSP.
One study found a 50% decline in syringe litter with the establishment of one SSP.
Between 11/2024 and 10/2025, Spurwink (the SSP in Lewiston) collected nearly 38% more syringes than they distributed.
SSPs prevent infectious diseases.
50%
$20m
SSPs are associated with a 50% reduction in HIV and hepatitis C incidence among people who inject drugs.
HIV treatment costs hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. Bangor is experiencing the largest HIV outbreak in Maine's history, which will potentially cost Maine taxpayers nearly $20 million to treat.
SSPs prevent overdoses.
In the most recent Maine CDC reporting period from November 2024 to October 2025, Maine SSPs reported over 12,500 naloxone distribution encounters.
SSPs decrease the risk of overdoses because they lead to less injection drug use over time. They distribute naloxone, the lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medication, in the event of an overdose.
Make a plan to vote!
Important Dates & Info to Vote No on 1
Request your absentee ballot
You can request an absentee ballot anytime between now and October 29. 2026. Make sure you request it early enough to return it by 8pm on Election Day. Find the City Clerk’s hours and contact information here.
Vote in person at City Hall before Election Day
You can vote in person at Lewiston’s City Clerk's Office starting in early October through Thursday, October 29, 2026. Find the City Clerk’s hours and contact information here.
Return your absentee ballot by 8pm on Election Day
Your absentee ballot must be returned to Lewiston City Hall by 8pm on Election Day! Please note! If you plan to use the U.S. mail to receive or return your absentee ballot please note the following U.S. Postal Service advisories for mail delivery:
Request your ballot no later than 15 days before (Monday, October 19 this year!) Election Day.
Return your ballot no later than 7 days before (Tuesday, October 27 this year!) Election Day.
Vote in person on Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3!
You can register to vote and vote on Election Day! This year, Election Day is on November 3, 2026. The polls are open from 7am to 8pm. You can find your polling location here.
Image courtesy of David Maher Photography via Creative Commons Licensing