BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 25, 2024
I just graduated from Bates College in Lewiston. During my time at Bates, I often went to Lewiston’s downtown skatepark, where I met with several young people. I learned a lot about their lives and struggles, especially those related to homelessness and substance use. Many of these individuals shared heartbreaking stories of friends and family lost to overdose or living on the streets. This firsthand experience highlighted how the climate crisis is making the challenges of drug abuse and homelessness even worse. The interconnectedness of homelessness, substance use, and the climate crisis requires legislative responses that are interconnected. Policies need to transcend traditional boundaries of public health, urban planning, and environmental protection to address the root causes, especially the reality of the climate crisis. ~ Anders Corey, Yarmouth