AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine is dealing with so many drug overdose deaths that the state medical examiner is asking for more money to handle the workload. The epidemic of heroin, fentanyl and other opioids is behind a record number of overdose deaths — 378 last year in Maine. The attorney general’s office, which oversees the […]
opioids
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
U.S. Senate approves Sen. Susan Collins’ provisions to opioid act
PORTLAND — The U.S. Senate has signed off on provisions Sen. Susan Collins authored into a federal opioid addiction act that are designed to protect pregnant mothers and children. The Senate overwhelmingly approved the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act on Wednesday. Collins, a Maine Republican, co-sponsored the legislation. One of Collins’ provisions is called the […]
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Posted inLetters
Why is Sen. King’s bill needed?
Sen. Angus King wants to charge a fee (tax) on prescription opioids to help pay for programs that would “alleviate” the country’s opioid epidemic. The fees (taxes) — an estimated $1.5 to $2 billion a year — would go toward substance abuse treatment, employment services and other programs. There would be exceptions to the fee/tax, […]
Posted inLocal & State, New England, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage prescribes ‘tough love’ to treat opioid crisis
BOSTON — All six New England governors say fighting the social stigma associated with addiction is key to battling the opioid crisis raging across the region, claiming thousands of lives. The governors pointed to a series of steps needed to fight the problem, from increasing education in schools about the addictive nature of opioids to […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine physicians topped nation for writing opioid prescriptions
Learn About Tableau Health care providers in Maine wrote prescriptions for a commonly abused type of painkiller at the highest rate in the nation in 2012, according to a new federal report that found wide variations in prescribing patterns across the U.S. State officials noted that since then, the number of Mainers in treatment for […]