Stories from the Common Ground
Recovery, mental health, and community in Maine, plus news from InhuMAINE, our documentary about homelessness and addiction in Bangor.
The HIV Outbreak in Penobscot County: What to Know and Where to Get Tested
49 cases since 2023, most among people who are unhoused or inject drugs. What Maine CDC recommends, why treatment and PrEP work, and where to get free HIV testing near Bangor.
October Update: InhuMAINE Wins in Bangkok and Screens in Keene
InhuMAINE won Documentary Film at the 2026 Bangkok Movie Awards and screened at the Monadnock International Film Festival in Keene, NH, with a Q&A from director Rogan O’Donnell.
Homelessness Is a Humanitarian Crisis, in Bangor and Across America
745,652 Americans were homeless on a single night in 2025, chronic homelessness hit a record high, and in Bangor an encampment closure disrupted the response to an HIV outbreak. Why we call it a humanitarian crisis.
The Importance of Connection in Recovery
The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety — it’s connection. On loneliness, recovery meetings of every kind, online support, sponsorship, church, friendship, and family.
Recovery Month in Maine: How to Get Involved
September is National Recovery Month. Here’s what recovery really means, who it touches, and how to show up in Maine — from Portland’s Rally 4 Recovery to Bangor’s Recovery-Palooza.
International Overdose Awareness Day: 25 Years On, Still Needed
On the 25th International Overdose Awareness Day, we remember the people we have lost, look at the latest national and Maine numbers, and share where to get naloxone and help.
Learning Disabilities and Addiction: A Connection Worth Talking About
Learning disabilities and ADHD are linked to a higher risk of substance use problems. What the research shows, and how recovery can work better for people who learn differently.
InhuMAINE This Summer: Saratoga Springs and a Return to Aroostook
InhuMAINE screened for county social services leaders at the New York Public Welfare Association conference in Saratoga Springs, then headed back to Presque Isle for two free library screenings.