Do 40% of needles distributed in Portland end up on the streets? | Fact brief
No.
There is no evidence that 40% of syringes distributed by Portland end up on city streets.
That claim may stem from a misreading of Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention data. A CDC report said that in the 12-month period ending Oct. 31, 2024, Portland Public Health distributed 952,411 syringes and disposed 577,517, or about 61%. That left 39% not disposed of by the program, but the report does not say all those syringes were discarded on the streets.
Related
Portland distributed — and collected — more needles than ever in 2025
More recent data shows higher collection rates. Portland’s 2025 Health and Human Services annual report says the city achieved an 86% syringe return rate. The rate increased 22% from the previous year, it said.
Maine CDC’s latest report, which covers the 12-month period ending Oct. 31, 2025, lists 1.1 million syringes distributed by Portland Public Health and 877,596 disposed of, a rate of about 79%.
The Maine Trust for Local News partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
Sources
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services: Syringe Service Programs in Maine, 2024 Annual Report (Pg. 48)
- City of Portland: Health & Human Services Department 2025 Annual Report (Pg. 19)
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services: Syringe Service Programs in Maine, 2025 Annual Report (Pg. 51)
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Tagged: city of portland, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, public health
