In the past two weeks, multiple Greater Bangor communities have reported finding hypodermic needles along the Penobscot River bank.
Brewer and Orrington officials have said they have found or been told about five needles on their shores since July 30.
The Brewer Police Department found three on July 30, the day the department said a child was “poked” by one along the Brewer Riverwalk.
Hypodermic needles have become a talking point in Bangor because of a proposed ban on needle exchanges that was voted down and residents saying they have found them in public spaces.
Bangor’s largest needle exchange, Health Equity Alliance, distributed more than a half million needles in 2024 before it closed. The city’s two remaining syringe service providers collectively distributed 349,356 needles and disposed of 386,462 in the following year, the most recent for which data is available.
With needles being found in Brewer and Orrington, other communities may take roles in larger discussions about needle use and disposal in the area.
In the last week, Orrington residents found one needle in North Orrington and one near the boat launch in South Orrington, Town Manager Chris Backman said at a Select Board meeting Monday. It’s unclear if they were used or where they came from.
“It was just out of sight, out of mind for me, and that was eye-opening to receive that,” he said at the meeting.
Orrington Selectman Michael Curtis said he’s heard of residents finding needles around the boat launch before, but he did not say when or how many. The needles may have floated down the river from Bangor, especially because of how close a previous encampment was to the river, Curtis said Monday.
“They’re probably on the waterfront in Bangor just pitching them,” Curtis said.
The announcement that the needles were found was more of a public service announcement during the meeting than an opportunity for selectmen to bring forward ideas on the issue. It’s unclear how the town would address future needles being found, but Backman said he would ask the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office for assistance if it occurs again.
“I would lean on and defer town actions to the sheriff’s office to assist and guide the town,” he said. “They are the experienced, trained professionals regarding this specific issue.”
Penobscot County Sheriff Troy Morton said his office has not received a “high number” of calls about discarded needles along the river bank. Cleaning up needles is “not simply an issue of appearance or cleanliness” but also of community safety, Morton said.
“The topic of discarded needles as it relates to drug use should be straightforward,” he said. “As a community, we have a responsibility to keep our public spaces safe, protect our residents and employees, and pursue practical solutions that address both the immediate hazard and the underlying problem.”
In Brewer, staff from the police department, parks and recreation, fire department and public works found three needles on the rocks near the riverwalk on July 30. It’s unclear if the needles were deposited there or if they washed ashore from the Penobscot River, Brewer Public Safety Director Chris Martin said in a statement on July 30.
Martin was not available for comment Thursday.
The Brewer City Council did not discuss the needles at its Tuesday meeting, and City Manager Eric Glidden referred the issue to Martin. Residents should report any needles or hazardous material they find in the city, and the police department will continue to police the riverwalk, Martin said in his July statement.
“The safety of all who visit our public spaces in Brewer is of high priority and we work diligently every day to ensure this,” he said. “People who visit these spaces and break the law will be held accountable to the highest degree possible.”