PORTLAND — Federal Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell says four Maine health centers will receive more than $1.2 million to expand substance abuse services, with a focus on opioid use.
Officials with the Human Services Department say the money will help Maine increase the number of patients that can be screened for substance abuse disorders. It will also help connect more users to treatment.
The money is part of $94 million in federal money that is going to 271 health centers in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
The Maine facilities receiving the grants are in Bangor, Lincoln, Portland and Waterville.
Federal officials say about 4.5 million people in the country were non-medical prescription pain reliever users in 2013. The human services department estimates the number of unintentional overdose deaths from prescription pain medications increased almost fourfold from 1999 to 2013.
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