It is the first time the designation has been used it since the category for fast-growing drug dangers was created in 2019.
overdose
Panel backs moving opioid antidote Narcan over the counter
U.S. health advisers say the overdose-reversal drug naloxone should be made available as an over-the-counter medication.
Fentanyl, the fast-acting and incredibly lethal opioid, killed more than 500 Mainers last year
Fentanyl is sometimes referred to as the “instant death,” an official from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services said Friday.
Number of Mainers who died from a drug overdose last year outpaced record set in 2021
Significantly impacting fatal overdoses is the introduction of xylazine and nonpharmaceutical tramadol. Both drugs showed up on toxicology reports for the first time in 2021, almost always in combination with fentanyl.
The Narcan effect: A new lease on life
Even as Maine experiences record numbers of overdose deaths, the expanded availability and use of the lifesaving opioid antidote naloxone presents a competing narrative.
Augusta marks International Overdose Awareness Day, which seeks to remove stigma, remember loved ones lost
Advocates hope removing the stigma of substance use disorder will encourage more to seek help with addiction.
Report highlights challenges to medication-assisted treatment access in rural Maine
The UVM-USM report surveyed more than 300 practitioners and community stakeholders to evaluate the unique needs and barriers to treatment for rural patients.
Federal task force to crack down on overprescription of opioids in the region
Four additional federal prosecutors will help local and federal law enforcement bring criminal cases against doctors and medical providers who are diverting opiates for profit.
Capitol Police Officer revives 2 men after apparent drug overdose
Gary Boulet, with the Bureau of Capitol Police in Augusta, was alerted to two unresponsive men in a car near an Augusta hospital.
Interim Portland Chief: Responding to overdoses, officers prioritize saving lives
With long wait lists and too few treatment beds, police carry out a vital public health role by administering Narcan.