The as-yet-unappropriated funds are intended to ease access to medication-assisted treatment for up to 500 Mainers, but now it’s up to Gov. LePage.
opioid epidemic
In lawsuit, Portland accuses opioid manufacturers of greed
The suit alleges that 20 drug manufacturers and five doctors who prescribed opioid painkillers knew that the drugs are addictive and subject to misuse.
Press Herald’s ‘Lost’ series on heroin crisis a finalist for national excellence award
The 10-part report is among 10 print finalists for health care institute recognition, along with The Washington Post, The New York Times, ProPublica and others.
Lincoln County sheriff’s deputy revives man with naloxone
A Whitefield woman called for help Monday after her friend overdosed on opiates, the sheriff’s office says.
Lawmakers back bill to negate governor’s age restriction on access to overdose antidote
More than a dozen people testify in favor of the bill to allow people of any age to buy naloxone without a prescription.
Studies link legal marijuana with fewer opioid prescriptions
Researchers find that Medicare patients in states with marijuana dispensaries fill prescriptions less often than in other states.
Maine Voices: Opioids aren’t our only drug problem
Mainers also are dying from overdosing on meth, cocaine, benzodiazepines and alcohol – usually in combinations.
Bill would undo LePage’s minimum age for buying overdose antidote without a prescription
The measure from House Speaker Sara Gideon would allow all Mainers, not just those 21 or older, to obtain naloxone as the state deals with an opioid crisis.
Trump calls for death penalty to get tough on opioid traffickers
Along with harsh penalties to halt the flow of drugs, he also unveils initiatives to battle overdoses, which kill Mainers at the rate of more than one a day.
Rhode Island doctor sentenced to more than 4 years in opioid kickback scheme
The doctor apologizes in court for taking money for prescribing a highly addictive fentanyl spray.