drug overdoses

A legislative committee has given initial approval to allow harm reduction centers in Maine communities that choose to open them.

The recommendation comes from a special committee, formed by Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline nearly a year ago, which focused on how the city should respond to substance use disorder and its impacts on the community.

Northern Light Health argued that the drug companies and pharmacy chains drove up the hospitals' cost of doing business during Maine's opioid crisis.

Last year, Maine saw a record 716 drug overdose deaths.

74% of respondents of a new survey from University of Maine researchers supported decriminalization for low-level drug offenses.

Recovery centers across Maine will host events on Wednesday to commemorate National Overdose Awareness Day.

From January to May, Maine saw an average of nearly 800 drug overdoses and 53 deaths each month. The latest drug report from the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine says that's an increase from the same timeframe in 2021, which saw roughly 660 overdoses per month.

With Maine seeing record numbers of fatal drug overdoses, lawmakers voted this week to expand that protection to other people at the scene in hopes of encouraging more people to quickly call for help during those crucial first minutes.

A bill to expand Maine's "Good Samaritan" law that shields people who help a drug overdose victim is under consideration in the Legislature, although a recent Senate debate illustrated divisions over how far to extend that immunity.