People attended a candlelight vigil in Lincoln on as part of International Overdose Awareness Day activities in this Aug. 31, 2016, file photo. Credit: Nick Sambides Jr. / BDN The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set newsroom policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com. Lee Umphrey is president and CEO of Eastern Maine Development Corp. Doug Dunbar is EMDC’s recovery and re-entry workforce ... Read More ›

  Lighted paper bags stand as memorials to those lost at a drug overdose victims' vigil in Portland's Monument Square on Aug. 31, 2015. Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set newsroom policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com. Gordon Smith is Maine’s first director of opioid response In her column published on International Overdose Awareness Day, ... Read More ›

Two southern Maine providers of behavioral health care services are planning to become “one,” literally, next month. Day One, headquartered in South Portland, and Windham-based SMART Child & Family Services will merge Oct. 1 and continue operations under the Day One name, the organizations said. Both nonprofit agencies will continue to operate from their current facilities, serving people who have substance use or mental health challenges, but will focus increasingly on family-based ... Read More ›

  Ten Maine organizations received federal funding to establish and expand access to integrated substance use disorder and mental health services. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto Author: Gabrielle Mannino (NEWS CENTER Maine) Published: 1:38 PM EDT August 31, 2020 Updated: 1:38 PM EDT August 31, 2020 WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — On the international day of overdose awareness and remembrance for those lost due to drug use, Sens. Angus King and Susan ... Read More ›

SAMHSA’s 2020 National Recovery Month Webinar Series National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with mental and substance use disorders to live healthy and rewarding lives. Now in its 31st year, Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those living in recovery. September 3: Integration of Medication-Assisted Treatment in Treatment and Recovery Support September 10: ... Read More ›

Maine Voices: Opinion ABOUT THE AUTHOR Eric Meyer is  president of the board for the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services and president and CEO of Spurwink Services Malory Shaughnessy is executive director of the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services The Alliance is a statewide membership association for community-based behavioral health organizations. We are in the midst of a trifecta – the COVID epidemic, a rapid economic collapse based on this epidemic, and ... Read More ›

  Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services, Maine The unified voice for Maine's community behavioral health providers   July 3, 2020 Governor Janet Mills 1 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 Dear Governor Mills, Let me first acknowledge that we are all working under severe time and financial constraints due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on our state. Given this we know that you and your leadership team are trying very hard to juggle many ... Read More ›

Laura Rosbrow-Telem, Public News Service - ME The COVID-19 crisis has heavily impacted the finances of Day One, a youth nonprofit and member of the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services in Maine. (Day One/Facebook) June 12, 2020 AUGUSTA, Maine - Forty percent of the agencies in Maine's Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services are concerned they may need to shut down services in the next six to 12 months, according to an internal survey. Eighty percent say they've already ... Read More ›