By: Jenae Addison The opioid epidemic in the United States has largely centered on white Americans, who account for roughly 80 percent of opioid overdose victims. But the national attention on white victims has pushed minorities to the sidelines, even as the number of opioid-related deaths among non-whites is on the rise. Non-whites make up 20 percent of deaths involving prescription and non-prescription opioids in the U.S. According to recent government figures, the number is ... Read More ›

The summit convened by Gov. Janet Mills attracts about 1,000 people and highlights ideas for addressing the epidemic of opioid use disorder. By: Joe Lawlor, Staff Writer Sam Quinones, author of the book "Dreamland," speaks Monday at the governor's opioid conference in Augusta. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal AUGUSTA — While federal and New England state officials discussed strategies for combating the opioid crisis at a statewide summit Monday, Mainers shared personal ... Read More ›

By: Ed Morin Gov. Janet Mills speaks at an Opioid Response Summit in Augusta on Monday. PATTY WIGHT / MAINE PUBLIC More than 1,000 people working to address the opioid crisis in Maine met for a daylong summit in Augusta on Monday. Gov. Janet Mills says the goal is to foster collaboration between health providers, law enforcement and the recovery community to better respond to a public health issue that kills nearly one Mainer a day. Addressing the ... Read More ›

Overdose deaths and opioid prescriptions are down, but there are new challenges ahead. By: The Editorial Board Prescriptions for the powerful pain medications that helped hook so many people on opioids are down in Maine, as are the number of fatal drug overdoses. That’s good news. But there remains plenty of evidence that the drug crisis is changing, bringing new challenges to policy makers, health care providers, law enforcement and families. Many of those Mainers will be at Gov. Janet ... Read More ›

Linda Coan O'Kresik | BDN Jeannie Chapman cleans rooms at the Farifield Inn, where she started working after her release in March 2018.   By Callie Ferguson, BDN Staff • July 11, 2019 6:00 am Updated: July 12, 2019 3:30 pm All Jeannie Chapman remembers from her overdose was drawing the heroin into the needle, sticking it in her arm and then waking up in an ambulance. Though she had come close to dying, she pleaded, unsuccessfully, with the paramedics not to take her to the ... Read More ›

A provision in federal law designed to control costs – called the upper payment limit – is creating an obstacle. By: Joe Lawlor, Staff Writer A federal requirement in the Medicaid program is threatening to hamper the Mills administration’s effort to increase access to opioid treatment programs in Maine. The Legislature shelved a bill this session that would have increased reimbursement rates, starting in July, by 8 percent for those offering medication-assisted treatment to Medicaid ... Read More ›

Learn how to better respect and respond to your client's unique needs in this online training of Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals, being offered at no cost by the Office of Minority Health, US Department of Health and Human Services. Cultural and linguistic competency is recognized as an important strategy for improving the quality of care provided to clients from diverse backgrounds. The goal of this e-learning program is to help behavioral health professionals ... Read More ›

The Developers Collaborative is partnering with the nonprofit Amistad on a supportive housing project for homeless women with substance use disorder. By: Randy Billings, Staff Writer A Portland developer is proposing converting the building at 66 State St., right, into a rooming house for women and adding affordable housing units in a new building next door. This artist's rendering shows the view from Danforth Street. Rendering courtesy of Archetype Architects A Portland ... Read More ›

2nd District congressman wants inpatient beds in Maine for vets facing a crisis. By: Steve Collins, Sun Journal Hoping some of the money might find its way to Maine, 2nd District U.S. Rep. Jared Golden recently persuaded colleagues to back $5 million in additional funding for long-term mental care for veterans. Ensuring mental health care for veterans is personal for Golden, a first-term Democrat from Lewiston who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in combat ... Read More ›

Medication-assisted treatment in jails and prisons makes good sense, and it's being backed by the courts. By: The Editorial Board Sheriffs of New England, you’ve got mail. The American Civil Liberties Union chapters of Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire last week sent a letter to every sheriff’s office or jail asking them to offer medication-assisted treatment to incarcerated people with opioid use disorder. The law enforcement officials should listen – and they have two very good ... Read More ›