AUGUSTA — Maine needs to expand access to treatment and prevention programs and do more to stop powerful opioid drugs from being diverted from legitimate uses. It also must raise awareness among youth of the dangers of opioids and increase the number of drug courts if it hopes to stem the opioid addiction crisis that […]
public health
Posted inLocal & State
Maine CDC reports increase in hepatitis A cases
Maine has seen a recent increase in hepatitis A cases, with four during the past three months, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday. While the year-to-date number of cases – six – is normal, “this increase in cases is unusual for this length of time,” the Maine CDC said in a […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web, Uncategorized
Lawmakers consider $1.50-a-pack hike in cigarette tax
The Legislature’s Taxation Committee is considering a bill that would raise the state cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack. AUGUSTA — Proponents of raising the state tax on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack hope this session to overcome opposition that has stymied the anti-smoking effort for years. Sponsor Rep. Joyce “Jay” McCreight, D-Harpswell, called it […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston council creates new public health committee
LEWISTON — A new Lewiston public health group will carry on where a joint Lewiston and Auburn committee left off, councilors agreed Tuesday. “It will now be the Lewiston Area Public Health Committee and it allows for membership not just from this community but other communities as well,” Deputy City Administrator Phil Nadeau said. City […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine lawmakers debate vaccination bills
AUGUSTA — Public health experts pressed lawmakers Monday to support bills aimed at boosting vaccination rates in Maine, but Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration and other critics said it’s inappropriate to strip parents of the ability to choose whether to inoculate their children. Lawmakers are considering whether to remove the philosophical exemption that allows parents […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
CDC fails to tie measles outbreak to immigration
One of our colleagues noticed that virtually every Washington Post article concerning the measles outbreak is followed by comments that link the outbreak to illegal immigration. As it turned out, a number of prominent politicians have suggested that there might be a link — or that a link cannot be ruled out. (LePage did not […]
Posted inLocal & State
Public health group warns of heavy budget cuts to Maine CDC
Health advocates are decrying proposed funding cuts in Gov. Paul LePage’s two-year budget that would “decimate Maine’s public health system,” including programs aimed at reducing smoking and staffing at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. LePage’s budget “drastically” reduces funding for the state’s tobacco program and “all but eliminates” the Healthy Maine Partnerships, […]