The Legislature will debate multiple proposals to create a specific position, and Gov. Janet Mills has said she plans to appoint an opioid czar as well. BY ERIC RUSSELL - STAFF WRITER Maine lawmakers will debate at least three bills to establish Cabinet-level positions in state government to respond to the prolonged opioid crisis that has claimed more than 1,000 lives in the last three years. Newly elected Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, also has pledged to create a new position – ... Read More ›
New Governor Janet Mills Makes Fighting Opioid Deaths A Priority In Maine — Finally
In her first days in office, the state’s first female governor expanded Medicaid and announced plans for an opioid czar. By Erin Schumaker ASSOCIATED PRESS The executive order that Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed Jan. 3 will make 70,000 more Maine residents eligible for Medicaid. On her first full day in office, Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) took a promising and decisive step toward tackling the state’s opioid crisis. In a reversal of the prior ... Read More ›
Recovery Center a lifeline for those facing addiction
Recovery Center a lifeline for those facing addictionYORK, Maine -- Stan’s story may sound familiar. Injured on the job years ago, the middle-aged man became addicted to pain medication, and so easily transitioned to heroin. He used, his wife used, his son used, “just to feel normal,” he said. David, a young Seacoast resident, has already been in jail on heroin possession charges. “I was in a bad breakup, and I wanted to mask the pain. Heroin filled that void.” A father, he said his ... Read More ›
Trump administration funding formula causes Maine to lose out on millions in federal opioid money
https://www.pressherald.com/2018/12/16/trump-administration-funding-formula-causes-maine-to-lose-out-on-millions-in-federal-opioid-funding/ Trump administration funding formula causes Maine to lose out on millions in federal opioid money Because officials used older data, the state missed a key cutoff, and funding dropped precipitously. BY JOE LAWLOR, STAFF WRITER After drug overdose deaths rose to record levels in Maine in 2017, the Trump administration used 2016 data in the ... Read More ›
Maine increases payments to providers treating opioid use disorder
Malory Shaughnessy, executive director of the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services, a nonprofit group, said she’s pleased to see the increase and other improvements in the Opioid Health Homes program. But she noted that critics pointed out the flaws in the Opioid Health Homes model in 2017, and state officials were slow to react. “We told them these same things nearly two years ago,” Shaughnessy said. “It’s unfortunate that we’ve had 600 to 700 deaths since then, and ... Read More ›
Independent Assessment of Children’s Behavioral Health Services in Maine
Provider Input Needed! Posted on September 20, 2018 Maine’s Office of Child and Family Services is conducting an independent assessment of Children’s Behavioral Health Services Maine has hired Public Consulting Group (PCG) to conduct the assessment. The assessment will look to identify strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in Maine’s existing service options for children and families. This includes, but is not limited to: home and community services; crisis services; emergency services; ... Read More ›
DHHS delays change addiction agencies said would put programs at risk
"In addition, Wellspring projects a $40,000 loss for its men’s and women’s residential facilities. The agency has waitlists for its residential services, but the reality is that it sometimes takes a day or two to reach clients and get them in the door — time for which Wellspring won’t be paid under a fee-for-service model. It will instead look for private donations to fill the gap. “The big question is what happens if you don’t find that funding,” Farley ... Read More ›
State funding change may complicate substance abuse treatment efforts
"After asking members to assess the impact last month, Shaughnessy said she heard back from seven who said the collective loss would be $3.5 million". Malory Shaughnessy, Executive Director, AAMHS https://www.pressherald.com/2018/06/27/state-funding-change-may-complicate-substance-abuse-treatment-efforts/ ... Read More ›
Legislature criticized for failing to address opioid crisis
“I am feeling very frustrated because we have put in a lot of hours and a lot of work looking at the opioid crisis in Maine,” said Malory Shaughnessy, executive director of the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services and a member of a state task force that recommended dozens of actions to the Legislature. “Now they are all caught up in the political process, and people are dying every day.” Legislature criticized for failing to address opioid crisis Drug addiction specialists and ... Read More ›
The Behavioral Healthcare for Maine Coalition (BHC4Me), came to Augusta today to demand that the legislature fully fund several bills that have passed with bi-partisan support to address the unraveling mental health care system and comprehensively respond to the state’s opioid crisis.
Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services, Maine shared Malory Otteson Shaughnessy's live video. Published by Malory Otteson Shaughnessy · April 10 at 2:50pm · The Behavioral Healthcare for Maine Coalition (BHC4Me), came to Augusta today to demand that the legislature fully fund several bills that have passed with bi-partisan support to address the unraveling mental health care system and comprehensively respond to the state’s opioid crisis. The Legislature has passed many of these ... Read More ›