OnTheIssuesLogo

Robert Charles on Drugs

 

 


Giving away 4 million needles is not the answer

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

CHARLES: I was stunned to find four or five years ago we were looking at 10,000 overdoses a year, fatal and nonfatal, in this state. Giving away 4 million needles is not the answer. I worked in this field for 30 years. This is not the answer on addiction services 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. We can't go backwards. We can't go back to the LePage days where we don't believe in treatment or recovery.

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. I support that, but I also heard about needles showing up in public spaces.

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

Worked with allies to dismantle global drug cartels

My public service began in the Reagan White House and later continued as Chief Counsel to the U.S. House National Security Subcommittee, where I helped oversee critical defense, intelligence, and homeland security policy. I then served as Assistant Secretary of State under Secretary Colin Powell, where I led global counter-narcotics operations, worked with allies to dismantle global drug cartels, and helped secure America's borders from lethal threats.
Source: 2026 Maine Gubernatorial campaign website BobbyForMaine.com , Jul 13, 2025

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

Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Local Issues
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty

[Title9]





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