Maine's Department of Health and Human Services intends to invest almost $2 million dollars in the next two years to address substance abuse issues among the state's youth.The agency will pursue preventative measures, counseling or treatment, and outreach to address the issue.
DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew says programs will be funded with money from the governor's budget.
"We're especially concerned about preventing opioid use disorder among children, so identifying this range of programs from when these children are infants all the way until they're youth felt like the right appropriate way to use Funds for Healthy Maine dollars to tackle opioid abuse response," Lambrew says.
The department has also announced it will push a statewide campaign to better educate new and impending parents about safe sleep practices for babies. The program roll-outs aim to further goals of the state's Children's Cabinet.