Download the entire PDF report: Maine Monthly Overdose Report for July 2024
Overview: Composite total of fatal and nonfatal overdoses
This report documents suspected and confirmed fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses in Maine during July 2024 as well as for the period January 2023–July 2024 (Table 1). The total number of confirmed and suspected fatal overdoses January–July 2024 is 302, 17.3% lower than the total confirmed fatal overdoses for the same period in 2023, 365. The total number of nonfatal overdoses January–July 2024 is 4,980, 12.2% lower than the total confirmed nonfatal overdoses for the same period in 2023, 5,670. During July 2024, the proportion of fatal overdoses averaged 4.3% of total overdoses. Monthly proportions of 2024 fatalities fluctuated from a low of 4.3% in July to a high of 7.4% in March. During the first seven months of 2024, fatal overdoses constituted 5.7% of all overdoses, lower than during January–July 2023 (6.0%).
Data derived from multiple statewide sources were compiled and deduplicated to calculate fatal and nonfatal overdose totals (Table 1). These include nonfatal overdose incidents reported by hospital emergency departments (ED), nonfatal emergency medical service (EMS) responses without transport to the ED, overdose reversals reported by law enforcement in the absence of EMS, and overdose reversals reported by community members or agencies receiving state-supplied naloxone through the Maine Naloxone Distribution Initiative. There are also an unknown number of private overdose reversals that were not reported and an unknown number of community-reported reversals that may have overlapped with emergency response by EMS or law enforcement. The total number of fatal overdoses in this report includes those that have been confirmed, as well as those that are suspected but not yet confirmed for March, June, and July 2024 (see Figure 1).
The total number of suspected and confirmed fatal overdoses and reported nonfatal overdoses for July 2024, 739, is displayed in Table 1 near the bottom row. Of those 739, there were 32 (4.3%) confirmed and suspected fatal overdoses, 293 (39.6%) nonfatal emergency department visits, 234 (31.7%) nonfatal EMS responses not transported to the emergency department, 166 (22.5%) reported community overdose reversals, and 14 (1.9%) law enforcement reversals in incidents that did not include EMS.
Table 1: Composite reported overdose totals, all drugs, January 2023-July 2024
| Fatal Overdoses | Emergency Department Nonfatal | EMS Not Transported to the ED Nonfatal | Reported Community Reversals Nonfatal | Law Enforcement Without EMS Nonfatal (estimated) | Total Overdoses | |
| Jan ’23 | 55 | 296 | 238 | 184 | 48 | 821 |
| Feb ’23 | 49 | 348 | 204 | 192 | 30 | 823 |
| Mar ’23 | 41 | 382 | 260 | 237 | 54 | 974 |
| Apr ’23 | 63 | 270 | 232 | 202 | 29 | 796 |
| May ’23 | 49 | 295 | 238 | 165 | 47 | 794 |
| Jun ’23 | 58 | 378 | 232 | 219 | 35 | 922 |
| Jul ’23 | 50 | 340 | 307 | 173 | 34 | 904 |
| Aug ’23 | 40 | 330 | 266 | 152 | 22 | 810 |
| Sep ’23 | 53 | 390 | 256 | 141 | 26 | 866 |
| Oct ’23 | 55 | 317 | 274 | 147 | 17 | 809 |
| Nov ’23 | 47 | 255 | 214 | 101 | 20 | 637 |
| Dec ’23 | 46 | 325 | 202 | 129 | 23 | 724 |
| 2023 Total | 606 | 3926 | 2921 | 2042 | 385 | 9880 |
| 2023 Total % | 6.1% | 39.7% | 29.6% | 20.7% | 3.9% | 100% |
| Jan ’24 | 43 | 268 | 226 | 139 | 10 | 686 |
| Feb ’24 | 44 | 306 | 242 | 136 | 22 | 750 |
| Mar ’24 | 59 | 379 | 233 | 119 | 12 | 802 |
| Apr ’24 | 43 | 253 | 205 | 190 | 8 | 699 |
| May ’24 | 38 | 309 | 256 | 165 | 10 | 778 |
| June ’24 | 43 | 340 | 232 | 202 | 11 | 828 |
| July ’24 | 32 | 293 | 234 | 166 | 14 | 739 |
| 2024 Total | 302 | 2148 | 1628 | 1117 | 87 | 5282 |
| 2024 Total % | 5.7% | 40.7% | 30.9% | 21.2% | 1.7% | 100% |
Law Enforcement Response to Fatal and Nonfatal Overdose Incidents
Due to the method used to deduplicate nonfatal overdose incidents to derive a composite number of overdoses for the month, the total activity of both law enforcement officials and EMS agencies is underrepresented in Table 1 because of the overlap between them. The process used to deduplicate overdoses begins by removing fatal overdoses from the emergency department and EMS overdose incidents. Then the number of patients transported to emergency departments by Maine EMS are removed from the EMS overdose incidents. Finally, EMS involvement and fatal overdose incidents are removed from law enforcement responses.
Table 2 shows the public safety response to fatal and nonfatal overdose events in January– July 2024 as well as January–December 2023. During January–July 2024, law enforcement officers responded to a reported 768 overdose incidents (282 fatal; 486 nonfatal), and Maine EMS responded to a reported 5,796 incidents (242 fatal; 5,554 nonfatal). During 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a reported 1,617 incidents (564 fatal; 1,053 nonfatal), and Maine EMS responded to a reported 10,318 incidents (480 fatal; 9,838 nonfatal).
Table 2. Fatal and nonfatal overdose emergency response count from law enforcement and Maine EMergency Medical Services, including overlapping cases
| Fatal overdose response Jan–Dec 2023 | Nonfatal overdose response Jan–Dec 2023 | Total overdose response Jan–Dec 2023 | Fatal overdose response Jan–Jul 2024 | Nonfatal overdose response Jan–Jul 2024 | Total Overdose Response Jan–Jul 2024 | |
| Maine EMS | 480 | 9838 | 10318 | 242 | 5554 | 5796 |
| Law Enforcement | 564 | 1053 | 1617 | 282 | 486 | 768 |
County Distribution of Suspected Nonfatal Overdoses
Table 3 shows the frequency distribution of nonfatal overdoses to which EMS responded at the county level. Overdose reversal totals reported by community partners and emergency departments are not reported by county; only EMS case data include county frequencies. The July 2024 monthly totals in the far right column can be compared to the percentage of the census population on the far left, the percentage of nonfatal overdoses for the year in 2023, or the January–July 2024 year-to-date total. Caution must be exercised viewing single counties, especially for a single month, due to small numbers. These may fluctuate randomly, without reflecting any statistically significant trend.
January–July 2024 percentage totals for most counties fall within 0 to 1 percentage points of the 2020 census distribution. Compared to the 2020 census proportion, Cumberland County is 3 percentage points higher, Androscoggin County and Penobscot County are 2 percentage points higher, and York County is 4 percentage points lower.
Nonfatal Drug Overdoses in Maine, July 2024
Nonfatal Drug Overdoses in Maine, Jan 2024 – Jul 2024
Table 3. County of EMS Incident among suspected and confirmed nonfatal overdoses
| % 2020 estimated Census population | Jan–Dec 2023 Est. N = 9838 | Jan–Jul 2024 Est. N = 5554 | Jul 2024 Est. N = 802 | ||||
| Androscoggin | 8% | 1009 | 10% | 574 | 10% | 101 | 12% |
| Aroostook | 5% | 485 | 5% | 315 | 6% | 35 | 4% |
| Cumberland | 22% | 2309 | 23% | 1391 | 25% | 206 | 24% |
| Franklin | 2% | 160 | 2% | 94 | 2% | 18 | 2% |
| Hancock | 4% | 276 | 3% | 149 | 3% | 18 | 2% |
| Kennebec | 9% | 963 | 10% | 555 | 10% | 103 | 12% |
| Knox | 3% | 327 | 3% | 168 | 3% | 29 | 3% |
| Lincoln | 3% | 227 | 2% | 97 | 2% | 15 | 2% |
| Oxford | 4% | 397 | 4% | 213 | 4% | 34 | 4% |
| Penobscot | 11% | 1351 | 14% | 697 | 13% | 101 | 12% |
| Piscataquis | 1% | 114 | 1% | 58 | 1% | 7 | 1% |
| Sagadahoc | 3% | 151 | 2% | 86 | 2% | 11 | 1% |
| Somerset | 4% | 471 | 5% | 265 | 5% | 37 | 4% |
| Waldo | 3% | 220 | 2% | 120 | 2% | 19 | 2% |
| Washington | 2% | 215 | 2% | 130 | 2% | 24 | 3% |
| York | 16% | 1163 | 12% | 642 | 12% | 110 | 13% |
Age and Gender Distribution of Suspected Nonfatal Overdoses with EMS Response
Table 4 displays the age composition of individuals suspected of experiencing nonfatal overdoses involving EMS response in July 2024, January–July 2024, as well as January–December 2023. Overdose reversal totals reported by community partners and emergency departments are not categorized and reported by age; only EMS case data include monthly age frequencies. Age group totals can be compared to the 2020 census proportion in the far left column. Caution must be exercised as the small number of cases in each month is vulnerable to random fluctuation that may not reflect a significant statistical trend. The age distribution for both 2023 and 2024 year to date compared to the 2020 census proportion shows a disproportionately large impact of suspected nonfatal overdose victims with EMS involvement for those aged 25–54. This impact is illustrated by looking at the 25- to 54-year age groups, which constitute 36% of the 2020 census population but 64% of the overdose population during 2023 and 62% in the first seven months of 2024. In contrast, in 2024 there are 14 percentage points fewer overdose victims among those under the age of 18 compared to the percentage of the census population in that age group. Similarly, there were 3 percentage points fewer overdose victims among those aged 55–64, and 11 percentage points fewer overdose victims among those 65 and older compared to the percentages of the census population for those age groups.
Table 4. Reported age group among suspected nonfatal overdose victims involving EMS response
| % 2020 estimated Census population | Jan–Dec 2023 Est. N = 9775 | Jan-Jul 2024 Est. N = 5576 | Jul 2024 Est. N = 810 | ||||
| < 18 | 18% | 402 | 4% | 245 | 4% | 39 | 5% |
| 18-24 | 7% | 903 | 9% | 523 | 9% | 71 | 8% |
| 25-34 | 12% | 2083 | 21% | 1091 | 20% | 182 | 21% |
| 35-44 | 12% | 2603 | 27% | 1427 | 26% | 222 | 26% |
| 45-54 | 12% | 1522 | 16% | 898 | 16% | 145 | 17% |
| 55-64 | 16% | 1317 | 13% | 731 | 13% | 109 | 13% |
| > 64 | 23% | 945 | 10% | 661 | 12% | 95 | 11% |
Table 5 displays the reported gender of individuals experiencing nonfatal overdoses involving EMS response in July 2024, January–July 2024, as well as January–December 2023. Overdose reversal totals reported by community partners and emergency departments are not categorized by gender; only EMS case data include monthly gender categories. Gender group totals can be compared to the 2020 census proportion by age group in the far left column or the January–December 2023 totals in the center column. When comparing the January– July 2024 with 2023, as well as the census population proportion, caution must be exercised as the small number of cases in each month is vulnerable to random fluctuation that may not reflect a significant statistical trend. Males represent 49% of the 2020 estimated census population and 59% of the nonfatal overdose victims with EMS involvement during January–July 2024.
Table 5. Reported Gender among suspected nonfatal overdose victims involving ems response
| % 2020 estimated Census population | Jan–Dec 2023 Est. N = 9794 | Jan–Jul 2024 Est. N = 5356 | Jul 2024 Est. N = 776 | ||||
| Male | 49% | 5970 | 61% | 3175 | 59% | 503 | 61% |
| Female | 51% | 3798 | 39% | 2180 | 41% | 327 | 39% |
| Transgender | Not collected | 26 | <1% | 1 | <1% | 0 | 0% |
County Distribution of Suspected and Confirmed Fatal Overdoses
Table 6 shows the frequency distribution of fatal overdoses at the county level. The July 2024 monthly totals in the far right column can be compared either to the percentage of the census population in the far left column, the percentage of county fatal overdoses for 2023, or the January–July 2024 year-to-date percentages. Caution must be exercised when viewing single counties with small numbers for a single month. These may fluctuate randomly, without reflecting any significant statistical trend. The January–July 2024 percentages for most counties fall within 0 to 1 percentage points of the 2020 census distribution. Compared to the 2020 census proportion, Aroostook County is 4 percentage points higher, Knox County and Penobscot County are 2 percentage points higher, York County is 6 percentage points lower, Cumberland County, Hancock County, and Sagadahoc County are 2 percentage points lower.
Table 6. County of death among suspected and confirmed fatal overdoses
| % 2020 estimated Census population | Jan–Dec 2023 Est. N = 604 | Jan–Jul 2024 Est. N = 302 | Jul 2024 Est. N = 32 | ||||
| Androscoggin | 8% | 69 | 11% | 27 | 9% | 3 | 9% |
| Aroostook | 5% | 40 | 7% | 27 | 9% | 2 | 6% |
| Cumberland | 22% | 116 | 19% | 59 | 20% | 6 | 19% |
| Franklin | 2% | 6 | 1% | 2 | 1% | 0 | 0% |
| Hancock | 4% | 22 | 4% | 5 | 2% | 1 | 3% |
| Kennebec | 9% | 60 | 10% | 30 | 10% | 6 | 19% |
| Knox | 3% | 16 | 3% | 15 | 5% | 1 | 3% |
| Lincoln | 3% | 7 | 1% | 9 | 3% | 0 | 0% |
| Oxford | 4% | 25 | 4% | 14 | 5% | 2 | 6% |
| Penobscot | 11% | 91 | 15% | 38 | 13% | 4 | 13% |
| Piscataquis | 1% | 17 | 3% | 4 | 1% | 1 | 3% |
| Sagadahoc | 3% | 7 | 1% | 4 | 1% | 0 | 0% |
| Somerset | 4% | 29 | 5% | 16 | 5% | 2 | 6% |
| Waldo | 3% | 10 | 2% | 13 | 4% | 2 | 6% |
| Washington | 2% | 25 | 4% | 9 | 3% | 1 | 3% |
| York | 16% | 64 | 11% | 30 | 10% | 1 | 3% |
Fatal Drug Overdoses in Maine July 2024
Fatal Drug Overdoses in Maine Jan – Jul 2024
Age and Sex Distribution of Fatal Overdose Victims
Table 7 displays the age and sex composition of the fatal overdose population for July 2024, January–July 2024, and January–December 2023, compared to the 2020 estimated census population. When comparing the July 2024 data with 2023 as well as the census population proportion, caution must be exercised as the small number of cases in each month is vulnerable to random fluctuation that may not reflect a significant statistical trend. The cumulative proportion of males is lower in January–July 2024 (66%) compared to January–December 2023 (73%).
The age distribution for 2024 compared to the 2020 census proportion shows a disproportionately large impact of fatal overdoses in those aged 35–64, as was true in 2023. That group includes 36% of the 2020 estimated census population, compared to 75% of the fatal overdose population in 2023 and 77% during January–July 2024. Compared to the census population for these age groups, in 2024 year to date, there were 4 percentage points fewer fatal overdoses among those aged 18–24 and 16 percentage points fewer among those 65 and older.
There were, however, differences between the age structures of the nonfatal overdoses (Table 4) and the fatal overdoses. In 2024 year to date, the highest proportion of overdoses was among those aged 35–44 (26%) among nonfatal and 30% among fatal) The second highest age group for nonfatal overdoses was 25–34 (20%) among nonfatal, but 45–54 among the fatal overdoses (25%).
Table 7. Decedent Reported Age Group and Sex among suspected and confirmed fatal overdoses
| % 2020 estimated Census population | Jan–Dec 2023 Est. N = 606 | Jan–Jul 2024 Est. N = 302 | Jul 2024 Est. N = 32 | ||||
| Male | 49% | 440 | 73% | 199 | 66% | 21 | 66% |
| < 18 | 18% | 3 | <1% | 3 | 1% | 0 | 0% |
| 18-24 | 7% | 28 | 5% | 10 | 3% | 0 | 0% |
| 25-34 | 12% | 85 | 14% | 37 | 12% | 8 | 25% |
| 35-44 | 12% | 199 | 33% | 91 | 30% | 12 | 38% |
| 45-54 | 12% | 135 | 22% | 76 | 25% | 5 | 16% |
| 55-64 | 16% | 118 | 19% | 65 | 22% | 6 | 19% |
| > 64 | 23% | 38 | 6% | 20 | 7% | 1 | 3% |
Race, ethnicity, and other demographic indicators of decedents
Table 8 displays the reported race and ethnicity of confirmed and suspected fatal overdoses in July 2024, January–July 2024, and January–December 2023 compared to the 2020 estimated census population. Note that race and ethnicity are not finalized until the full death certificate is entered into Vital Records, and a small number of decedents’ records currently lack information about these variables. Out of 297 decedents for whom race was reported January–July 2024, 92% of the victims were identified as White, 0% as Black/African American, and 3% as American Indian/Alaska Native. Out of 291 decedents for whom Hispanic ethnicity status was reported, 3% were identified as Hispanic.
Table 8. Decedent race and ethnicity among suspected and confirmed fatal overdoses
| % 2020 Estimated Census Population: Race & Hispanic/Latinx Ethnicity | Jan–Dec 2023 Race N = 605 Ethnicity N = 589 | Jan–Jul 2024 Race N = 297 Ethnicity N = 291 | Jul 2024 Race Est. N = 31 Ethnicity Est. N = 31 | ||||
| White alone, non-Hispanic | 91% | 551 | 91% | 272 | 92% | 28 | 90% |
| Black/African American alone, non-Hispanic | 2% | 24 | 4% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic | 1% | 12 | 2% | 8 | 3% | 2 | 6% |
| Other race and 2+ races combined, non-Hispanic | 7% | 11 | 2% | 8 | 3% | 1 | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latinx alone or in combination | 2% | 7 | 1% | 9 | 3% | 0 | 0% |
military status and housing stability of fatal overdose victims
Out of the 281 cases for which military background was reported January–July 2024, 18 (6%) were identified as having a military background. Out of the 31 cases in July 2024 where military background was reported, 5 (16%) were identified as having a military background.
Of the 302 total suspected and confirmed fatal overdose cases year to date in 2024, undomiciled or transient housing status was reported for 39 (13%) victims. Among those 39, the largest proportions of undomiciled persons were found in Cumberland County (12, 31%), Androscoggin County (9, 23%) and Penobscot County (6, 15%). In July 2024, 7 fatal overdose victims (22%) were identified as undomiciled.
Basic incident patterns in fatal overdoses
Table 9 reports basic incident patterns for fatal overdoses. July 2024 can be compared to 2023 as a whole or to January–July year to date totals. Caution must be exercised interpreting a single month of data as numbers may fluctuate randomly and not reflect a statistically significant trend. In addition, data totals may change slightly as suspected cases are confirmed or eliminated.
Both EMS and police responded together to most fatal overdoses (74%) in 2024 year to date. Law enforcement was more likely to respond to a scene alone (20%) than EMS (6%). The overwhelming majority (92%) of confirmed fatal drug overdoses were ruled as, or suspected of being, accidental manner of death.
Of the 302 confirmed or suspected fatal overdoses in 2024, 97 (32%) had a history of prior overdose.
Although most cases had bystanders or witnesses present at the scene by the time first responders arrived, the details about who was present at the time of the overdose were frequently unclear. However, responding family and friends or other bystanders administered naloxone for 43 (14%) of the 2024 fatal overdoses, slightly higher than the proportion in 2023 (13%). Often, EMS and/or law enforcement administered naloxone in addition to bystanders or witnesses. During 2024, 27% of suspected and confirmed fatal overdose cases had naloxone administered at the scene by EMS, bystanders, and/or law enforcement. This rate is also slightly higher than 2023 (26%).
Of the 242 suspected or confirmed drug death cases with EMS involvement during 2024, 125 (52%) victims were already deceased when EMS arrived. In the remaining 117 (48%) cases, resuscitation was attempted either at the scene or presumably in the ambulance during transport to the emergency room. One case had an unreported response once EMS arrived. Of those 117 who were still alive when EMS arrived, 43 (37%) were transported, and 73 (62%) did not survive to be transported. Thus, out of 242 ultimately fatal cases with EMS response, only 43 (18%) remained alive long enough to be transported but died during transport or at the emergency room. This outcome is likely due to a combination of the high number of cases with fentanyl as a cause of death and individuals using alone. Fentanyl acts more quickly than other opioids, and there is less time for bystanders to find an overdose victim alive, administer naloxone, and call 911.
Table 9. Incident CHARACTERISTICS among suspected and confirmed fatal overdoses
| Jan–Dec 2023 Est. N = 606 | 2024 Jan–Jul Est. N = 302 | Jul 2024 Est. N = 32 | ||||
| EMS response alone | 36 | 6% | 18 | 6% | 1 | 3% |
| Law enforcement alone | 120 | 20% | 59 | 20% | 3 | 9% |
| EMS and law enforcement | 443 | 73% | 223 | 74% | 27 | 84% |
| Private transport to Emergency Dept. | 5 | 1% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Naloxone administration reported at the scene | 155 | 26% | 83 | 27% | 12 | 38% |
| Bystander only administered | 39 | 6% | 33 | 11% | 6 | 19% |
| Law enforcement only administered | 15 | 2% | 6 | 2% | 1 | 3% |
| EMS only administered | 43 | 7% | 27 | 9% | 4 | 13% |
| EMS and law enforcement administered | 10 | 2% | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| EMS and bystander administered | 30 | 5% | 6 | 2% | 1 | 3% |
| Law enforcement and bystander administered | 8 | 1% | 3 | 1% | 0 | 0% |
| EMS, bystander, and law enforcement administered | 4 | 1% | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Naloxone administered by unspecified person | 3 | 0% | 2 | 1% | 0 | 0% |
| History of prior overdose | 205 | 34% | 97 | 32% | 12 | 38% |
Key drug categories and combinations causing overdose deaths
Table 10 displays the frequencies of the most prominent drug categories causing death among confirmed drug deaths. As expected, within the confirmed drug death cases so far in 2024, nonpharmaceutical fentanyl was the most frequent cause of death, mentioned on the death certificate of 193 (76%) victims.
Fentanyl is nearly always found in combination with multiple other drugs. Heroin involvement, declining rapidly in recent years, was reported as a cause of death in 10 (4%) of 2024 year-to-date deaths and 12 (2%) of 2023 deaths. Xylazine and nonpharmaceutical tramadol were identified as co-intoxicants with fentanyl for the first time in 2021. Among 253 confirmed deaths in 2024, there were 37 cases (15%) with xylazine listed in addition to fentanyl as a cause of death, and 1 case (<1%) with tramadol listed along with fentanyl.
Stimulants continue to increase as a cause of death, usually in combination with other drugs, particularly fentanyl. Cocaine-involved fatalities constituted 102 (40%) of confirmed cases so far in 2024, higher than 2023 (37%) and an increase from 29% in 2022. Fentanyl is mentioned as a cause in combination with cocaine in 81 cases, 79% of 2024 year-to-date cocaine cases. Methamphetamine was cited as a cause of death in 92 (36%) of the confirmed fatal overdoses so far in 2024, higher than in 2023 (33%); 78 (85%) of the methamphetamine deaths also involved fentanyl as a co-intoxicant cause of death. Cocaine and methamphetamine are named together on 22 (7%) death certificates in 2024, in most of those cases (20, 91%) as co-intoxicants of fentanyl.
| Cause of death (alone or in combination with other drugs) Sample size for confirmed cases only | Jan–Dec 2023 Est. N = 606 | Jan–Jul 2024 Est. N = 302 | Jul 2024 Est. N = 32 | |||
| Fentanyl or fentanyl analogs | 472 | 78% | 193 | 64% | 1 | 3% |
| Heroin | 12 | 2% | 10 | 3% | 0 | 0% |
| Cocaine | 226 | 37% | 102 | 34% | 1 | 3% |
| Meth-amphetamine | 199 | 33% | 92 | 30% | 1 | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical opioids** | 108 | 18% | 40 | 13% | 0 | 0% |
| Fentanyl and heroin | 12 | 2% | 10 | 3% | 0 | 0% |
| Fentanyl and cocaine | 192 | 32% | 81 | 27% | 1 | 3% |
| Fentanyl and meth-amphetamine | 163 | 27% | 78 | 26% | 1 | 3% |
| Fentanyl and xylazine | 60 | 10% | 37 | 12% | 0 | 0% |
| Fentanyl and tramadol | 3 | 0% | 1 | <1% | 0 | 0% |
Highlight of the Month
Governor Mills Keynotes 6th Annual Opioid Response Summit
Maine Governor Janet T. Mills hosted over 1200 people at her 6th Annual Opioid Response Summit on July 25 at the Central Maine Community College in Auburn. What follows are excerpts from her keynote presentation. All of the address and several other presentations are available on the Summit section of the AdCare website.
Five and a half years ago, I set four clear goals for our response to the opioid epidemic, through my Executive Order #2: 1). Purchasing and distributing more naloxone 2). Increasing access to suboxone in hospital emergency departments 3). Recruiting and training recovery coaches and 4). Making medication for Substance Use Disorder access universal in Maine’s prison and jails.
Our partnerships—between state and local government, non-profit organizations and health care providers, individuals with substance use disorder and their family members, and many other Maine people who are participating in this summit today—are achieving real progress on these goals and others.
Last year, drug overdose deaths declined by 16 percent in Maine, the first time in five years we’ve recorded an annual decrease.
In fact, we were one of just four states—along with Nebraska, Kansas, and Indiana—to experience a decline nationwide of over 15 percent, while states like Alaska, Washington, and Oregon had increases of overdose deaths of nearly 30 percent.
This year, we have continued to make important progress. From January to June, fatal overdoses have decreased by nearly 12 percent. When you consider the preliminary numbers from July, we are on track to record a nearly 15 percent decrease for the first seven months of 2024…
My Administration is doing all we can, reasonably and responsibly, to stop drugs from reaching Maine; to prevent substance use disorder at an early age; to treat it when we can’t prevent it; to set people on a life-long path to recovery—and above all else to save lives…
Earlier this year, I signed a bill to encourage the Superior Courts and District Courts to ensure that Adult Treatment and Recovery Courts are available everywhere in Maine, especially in our most rural areas. Androscoggin County has one, but many other counties do not.
Since 2019, we have expanded access to suboxone in 28 of 33 hospital emergency departments statewide and are working now to expand access to the last five.
And, this year, I included $4 million in our supplemental budget to expand medication for Substance Use Disorder in county jails.
This builds on the important work being done by the Maine Department of Corrections to provide universal access to substance use disorder treatment, including medication for Substance Use Disorder, peer recovery coaching, and mental health treatment services, across its system.
In the Supplemental Budget, we are also investing another $5 million to launch Crisis Receiving Centers, including one right here in Androscoggin County, as well as Kennebec, Aroostook, and Penobscot counties, to serve as anchors in communities for SUD and mental health services.
These are in addition to the 21 other recovery community centers across the State of Maine with more than 800 paid and volunteer staff who served more than 14,000 people last year alone.
To support those recovery community centers, we are adding nine new recovery coaches to our OPTIONS team; adding three recovery coaches and a recovery coach coordinator to serve Family Recovery Court participants in Lewiston, Augusta and Bangor; and implementing “Recovery Friendly Workplaces.”
Mark your calendars now for the 7th Annual Opioid Response Summit, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, July 10, 2025 at the Augusta Civic Center.