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YORK, Maine — In a new initiative to help people overcome opioid addiction, York Hospital is among the first hospitals in Maine to begin prescribing Suboxone — a medical treatment for opioid withdrawal symptoms — in its emergency department.

“We knew we simply had to do more to combat the most significant public health crisis of our generation,” said Dr. Robert Hulefeld, York Hospital’s leader of emergent care. “We thoughtfully planned for our first induction earlier this summer — rolling out educational trainings to help Emergency Department staff better understand opioid use disorder and destigmatize patient care.”

Meeting patients “where they are” after being admitted to the Emergency Department due to opioid misuse and initiating treatment with a first dose of Suboxone helps to stop withdrawal and relieve cravings so patients can have the best chance of successful treatment, Hulefeld said.