Advocates for the mentally ill say the proposals would debilitate community-based services in the state.
Joe Lawlor
Staff Writer
Joe Lawlor writes about health and human services for the Press Herald. A 24-year newspaper veteran, Lawlor has worked in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia before relocating to Maine in 2013 to join the Press Herald. He is still considered “from away” but since then, he has learned what a “dooryard” is, eaten “whoopie pies” drank Moxie and boiled some “lobstahs.” The stories he enjoys most are when he learns something and meeting inspiring people.
He lives in South Portland - aka “SoPo” - with his wife, Melanie, and two school-age children.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Data suggest use of heroin rose in Maine as access to pills waned
The correlation emerges in a Telegram review of drug addiction treatment; meanwhile, state efforts to further restrict prescription opioids proceed carefully.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Data suggest use of heroin rose in Maine as access to pills waned
The correlation emerges in a Telegram review of drug addiction treatment; meanwhile, state efforts to further restrict prescription opioids proceed carefully.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine doctors back 2 bills to restrict opioid prescriptions, but seek flexibility
The measures would set limits on the length of prescriptions for opioid pain relievers, which are addictive and have played a large role in the state’s heroin epidemic.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Midcoast, Down East lead Maine in rates of fatal drug overdoses
There doesn’t seem to be a clear-cut reason as yet, but experts have theories.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Obama heroin treatment program sending $2.4 million to Maine
The money will fund substance abuse treatment programs in Portland, Bangor, Lincoln and Waterville.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Drug overdose deaths surge by ‘shocking’ 31 percent in Maine
The state had a record 272 fatalities in 2015, continuing a steady climb since 2011 as heroin took a heavy toll in the streets and suburbs.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine seeks new rules for prescribing opioids as way to combat heroin crisis
The LePage administration’s bill would require doctors to use a prescription monitoring program that’s now voluntary, and limit the supply of opiates for chronic pain to 15 days.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Falmouth psychiatrist put on probation after patient’s suicide
The mother of a patient who committed suicide by overdose says the doctor, who had lost his medical license in other states, over-prescribed drugs and got away with it.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Operation Hope helping addicts, but treatment depends on the charity of out-of-state programs
Scarborough police have connected 109 addicts with treatment since Oct. 1, often by finding beds in states as far away as California