May 2025 Monthly Overdose Report

Download the entire PDF report: Maine Monthly Overdose Report for May 2025

Overview: Composite total of fatal and nonfatal overdoses

This report documents suspected and confirmed fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses in Maine during May 2025 as well as for the period January 2024–May 2025 (Table 1). The total number of confirmed and suspected fatal overdoses during 2025 is 167, 28.3% lower than the total confirmed fatal overdoses for January–May 2024, 233. The total number of nonfatal overdoses during January–May 2025 is 2,901, 18.2% lower than the total reported nonfatal overdoses for January–May 2024, 3,546. Monthly proportions of 2025 fatalities from January to May averaged 5.4%. They ranged from a high of 6.1% in February to a low of 4.8% in March. During 2024, fatal overdoses constituted 5.8% of all overdoses, just slightly lower than 2023 (6.1%).  

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 overlappedwith emergency response by EMS or law enforcement. The total number of fatal overdoses in this report includes those thathave been confirmed, as well as those that are suspected but not yet confirmed for March, April, and May 2025 (see Figure 1).The total number of suspected and confirmed fatal overdoses and reported nonfatal overdoses for May 2025, 641, isdisplayed in Table 1 in the bottom row.  Of those 641, there were 33 (5.1%) confirmed and suspected fatal overdoses, 307 (47.9%) nonfatal emergency department visits, 200 (31.2%) nonfatal EMS responses not transported to the emergencydepartment, 88 (13.7%) reported community overdose reversals, and 13 (2.0%) law enforcement reversals in incidents that did not include EMS.

Table 1: Composite reported overdose totals, all drugs, January 2024–April 2025

	Nonfatal
	Emergency Dept.	EMS not transportedto emergency	Community reversalswith naloxone	Law enforcement nonfatal overdose responsewithout EMS	Totalnonfatal overdoses	Total confirmed andsuspectedfatal overdoses	Total overdoses
January 2024	269	225	139	26	659	45	704
February 2024	305	242	136	28	711	43	754
March 2024	379	232	119	27	757	61	818
April 2024	253	205	190	14	662	44	706
May 2024	311	257	165	24	757	40	797
June 2024	344	232	202	12	790	42	832
July 2024	293	235	166	23	717	39	756
August 2024	287	215	119	10	631	31	662
September 2024	318	199	114	6	637	34	671
October 2024	299	198	86	17	600	32	632
November 2024	261	176	58	18	513	39	552
December 2024	353	190	49	12	604	40	644
2024 YTD total	3672	2606	1543	217	8038	490	8528
% of 2024 YTD total	43.0%	30.6%	18.1%	2.5%	94.3%	5.8%	100%
January 2025	234	193	53	15	495	31	526
February 2025	254	159	74	18	505	33	538
March 2025	376	200	71	31	678	34	712
April 2025	295	212	90	18	615	36	651
May 2025	307	200	88	13	608	33	641
2025 YTD Total	1466	964	376	95	2901	167	3068
% of 2025 YTD Total	47.8%	31.4%	12.3%	3.1%	94.6%	5.4%	100%

Composite reported overdose totals, all drugs

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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–May 2025 as well as January–December 2024. During 2024, law enforcement officers responded to a reported 1,156 overdose incidents (451 fatal; 705 nonfatal), and Maine EMS responded to a reported 9,493 incidents (385 fatal; 9,108 nonfatal). During 2025, law enforcement officers responded to a reported 350 incidents (85 fatal; 265 nonfatal), and Maine EMS responded to a reported 3,730 incidents (69 fatal; 3,661 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 2024	Nonfatal overdose response Jan–Dec 2024	Total overdose response Jan–Dec 2024	Fatal overdose response  Jan-May 2025	Nonfatal overdose response Jan-May 2025	Total Overdose Response Jan-May 2025
Maine EMS	385	9108	9493	69	3661	3730
Law Enforcement	451	705	1156	85	265	350

 

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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 May 2025 monthly totals in the far right column can be compared to the percentage of the census population on the far left, or to the percentage of nonfatal overdoses for the year in 2025 or in 2024. 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.

The 2025 percentage totals for most counties fall within 0 to 2 percentage points of the 2020 census distribution. Compared to the 2020 census proportion, Cumberland County is 5 percentage points higher, and Penobscot County and Androscoggin County are 3 percentage points higher. York County is 5 percentage points lower.

Table 3. County of EMS incident among suspected and confirmed nonfatal overdoses

	% 2020 estimated Census population	Jan–Dec 2024 Est. N = 9108		Jan–May 2025 Est. N = 3661		May 2025 Est. N = 791
Androscoggin	8%	913	10%	410	11%	82	10%
Aroostook	5%	488	5%	144	4%	37	5%
Cumberland	22%	2309	25%	1005	27%	236	30%
Franklin	2%	165	2%	68	2%	16	2%
Hancock	4%	241	3%	80	2%	14	2%
Kennebec	9%	907	10%	317	9%	56	7%
Knox	3%	262	3%	112	3%	30	4%
Lincoln	3%	171	2%	63	2%	10	1%
Oxford	4%	334	4%	126	3%	25	3%
Penobscot	11%	1138	12%	504	14%	85	11%
Piscataquis	1%	101	1%	40	1%	8	1%
Sagadahoc	3%	152	2%	55	2%	11	1%
Somerset	4%	399	4%	160	4%	35	4%
Waldo	3%	197	2%	82	2%	25	3%
Washington	2%	225	2%	102	3%	19	2%
York	16%	1106	12%	393	11%	102	13%

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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 May 2025, 2025 year to date, and 2024. 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 2024 and 2025 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 25–54-year age groups, which constitute 36% of the population in the 2020 census compared to 62% of the nonfatal overdose population in 2025. In 2025, there are 13 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 2024  Est. N = 9152		Jan–May 2025  Est. N = 3664		May 2025  Est. N = 798
< 18	18%	383	4%	169	5%	34	4%
18-24	7%	829	9%	281	8%	56	7%
25-34	12%	1782	19%	662	18%	127	16%
35-44	12%	2344	26%	1028	28%	218	27%
45-54	12%	1483	16%	603	16%	150	19%
55-64	16%	1225	13%	474	13%	111	14%
> 64	23%	1106	12%	447	12%	102	13%

Table 5 displays the reported gender of individuals experiencing nonfatal overdoses involving EMS response in May 2025, 2025 year to date, as well as 2024. 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 in the EMS data can be compared to the 2020 census proportion by gender in the far left column or the January–December 2024 totals in the center column. When comparing the January–May 2025 with 2024, as well as the census populationproportion, caution must be exercised as the small number of cases in each month is vulnerable to random fluctuation thatmay not reflect a significant statistical trend. Males represent 49% of the 2020 estimated census population, 58% of the nonfatal overdose victims with EMS involvement in 2024, and 59% during January–May 2025. 

Table 5. Reported gender among suspected nonfatal overdose victims involving EMS response

	% 2020 estimated Census population	Jan–Dec 2024  Est. N = 8800		Jan–May 2025  Est. N = 3531		May 2025 Est. N = 768
Male	49%	5116	58%	2078	59%	456	59%
Female	51%	3683	42%	1451	41%	312	41%
Transgender	Not collected	1	0.0%	2	0.06%	0	0%

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County Distribution of Suspected and Confirmed Fatal Overdoses

Table 6 shows the frequency distribution of fatal overdoses at the county level. The May 2025 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 2024, or the 2025 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 2025 percentages for most counties fall within 0 to 2 percentage points of the 2020 censusdistribution. Compared to the 2020 census proportion, Penobscot County is 6 percentage points higher while Androscoggin County and Aroostook County are 3 percentage points higher. Hancock County, and Sagadahoc County are 3 percentage points lower.

Table 6. County of death among suspected and confirmed fatal overdoses

	% 2020 estimated Census population	Jan–Dec 2024  Est. N = 490		Jan–May 2025  Est. N = 167		May 2025  Est. N = 33
Androscoggin	8%	46	9%	18	11%	4	12%
Aroostook	5%	39	8%	13	8%	5	15%
Cumberland	22%	90	18%	35	21%	4	12%
Franklin	2%	6	1%	4	2%	0	0%
Hancock	4%	15	3%	2	1%	0	0%
Kennebec	9%	47	10%	13	8%	1	3%
Knox	3%	22	4%	4	2%	1	3%
Lincoln	3%	18	4%	2	1%	0	0%
Oxford	4%	20	4%	4	2%	2	6%
Penobscot	11%	64	13%	29	17%	7	21%
Piscataquis	1%	5	1%	2	1%	0	0%
Sagadahoc	3%	7	1%	0	0%	0	0%
Somerset	4%	22	4%	4	2%	0	0%
Waldo	3%	18	4%	7	4%	3	9%
Washington	2%	16	3%	6	4%	0	0%
York	16%	55	11%	24	14%	6	18%

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Age and Sex Distribution of Fatal Overdose Victims

Table 7 displays the age and sex composition of the fatal overdose population for May 2025, 2025 year to date, and 2024, compared to the 2020 estimated census population. When comparing the May 2025 data with 2024 as well aswith the census population proportion, caution must be exercised as the small number of cases in each month is vulnerableto random fluctuation that may not reflect a significant statistical trend.

The cumulative proportion of males is higher so far in 2025 (67%) compared to 2024 (66%) and the census population (49%). The age distribution for 2025 compared to the 2020 census proportion shows a disproportionately large impact of fatal overdoses in those aged 35–64, as was true in 2024. That group includes 40% of the 2020 estimated census population, compared to 76% of the fatal overdose population in 2025 and 75% in 2024. Those ages 18–24 constitute 7% of the 2020 census population but 4% of  2025 fatal overdoses. Those 65 and older comprise 23% of the census population but only 8% of the 2025 fatal overdoses.

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Note that death certificate reports sex as male or female without  gender categories.

Table 7. Decedent reported age group and sex among suspected and confirmed fatal overdoses

	% 2020 estimated Census population	Jan–Dec 2024  Est. N = 490		Jan–May 2025  Est. N = 167		May 2025  Est. N = 33
Male	49%	322	66%	112	67%	20	61%
< 18	18%	5	1%	0	0%	0	0%
18-24	7%	13	3%	7	4%	0	0%
25-34	12%	65	13%	21	13%	2	6%
35-44	12%	143	29%	58	35%	14	42%
45-54	12%	126	26%	33	20%	7	21%
55-64	16%	98	20%	35	21%	7	21%
> 64	23%	40	8%	13	8%	3	9%

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Race, ethnicity, and other demographic indicators of decedents

Table 8 displays the reported race and ethnicity of confirmed and suspected fatal overdoses in May 2025, 2025 year to date, and 2024 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 167 decedents for whom race was reported in 2025, 96% of the victims were identified as White,0% as Black/African American, and 1% as American Indian/Alaska Native. Out of 167 decedents for whom Hispanic ethnicity status was reported, 1% were identified as Hispanic.

A: Race	% 2020 Estimated Census Population	Jan-Dec 2024  Race N = 490		Jan-May 2025  Race N = 167		May 2025 Race N = 35
White alone	94%	452	92%	161	96%	31		94%
Black/African American alone	2%	19	4%	0	0%	0		0%
American Indian/Alaska Native alone	1%	10	2%	1	1%	0		0%
Other race and 2+ races combined	3%	9	2%	5	3%	2		6%
B: Ethnicity	% 2020 Estimated Census Population	Jan–Dec 2024   Ethnicity N = 483		Jan–May 2025  Ethnicity N = 135		May 2025 Ethnicity N = 34
Hispanic/Latinx alone	2%	9	2%	2	1%	0	0%

Military status and housing stability of fatal overdose victims

Out of the 163 cases for which military background was reported in 2025, 8 (5%) were identified as having a military background. Out of the 31 cases in May 2025 where military background was reported, 2 (6%) were identified as having a military background. 

Of the 167 total suspected and confirmed fatal overdose cases year to date in 2025, undomiciled or transient housing status was reported for 16 (10%) victims. Among those 16, the largest proportions of undomiciled persons were found in Androscoggin County (5, 31%) Cumberland County (4, 25%) and York County (2, 13%). In May 2025, 3 fatal overdose victims (9%) were identified as undomiciled.  

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Basic incident patterns in fatal overdoses

Table 9 reports basic incident patterns for fatal overdoses. May 2025 can be compared to 2025 year to date or 2024. 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 (54%) in 2025. Law enforcement was more likely torespond to a scene alone (30%) than EMS (10%). The overwhelming majority (88%) of confirmed fatal drug overdoses were ruled as, or suspected of being, accidental manner of death. 

Of the 167 confirmed or suspected fatal overdoses in 2025, 37 (22%) had a reported history of prior overdose, fewer than in 2024 (30%).

Although most cases had bystanders or witnesses present at the scene by the time first responders arrived, the detailsabout who was present at the time of the overdose were frequently unclear. However, responding family and friends orother bystanders administered naloxone for 15 (9%) of the 2025 fatal overdoses, lower than the proportion in 2024 (13%). Often, EMS and/or law enforcement administered naloxone in addition to bystanders or witnesses. During 2025, 27% of suspected and confirmed fatal overdose cases had naloxone administered at the scene by EMS, bystanders, and/or lawenforcement, nearly the same as in 2024 (26%).

Of the 110 suspected or confirmed drug death cases with EMS involvement during 2025, 47 (43%) victims were alreadydeceased when EMS arrived. In the remaining 63 (57%) cases, resuscitation was attempted either at the scene orpresumably in the ambulance during transport to the emergency room. One case had an unreported response once EMS arrived. Of those 63 who were still alive when EMS arrived, 23 (37%) were transported, and 40 (63%) did not survive tobe transported. Thus, out of 110 ultimately fatal cases with EMS response, only 23 (21%) 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 highnumber of cases with fentanyl as a cause of death and individuals using alone. Fentanyl acts more quickly than otheropioids, 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 2024  Est. N = 490		Jan–May 2025  Est. N = 167		May 2025  Est. N = 33
EMS response alone	35	7%	17	10%	4	12%
Law enforcement alone	96	20%	50	30%	10	30%
EMS and law enforcement	350	71%	90	54%	15	45%
Private transport to Emergency Dept.	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Naloxone administration reported at the scene	125	26%	45	27%	7	21%
Bystander only administered	48	10%	9	5%	0	0%
Law enforcement only administered	9	2%	4	2%	1	3%
EMS only administered	41	8%	21	13%	5	15%
EMS and law enforcement administered	2	0%	4	2%	0	0%
EMS and bystander administered	12	2%	4	2%	0	0%
Law enforcement and bystander administered	4	1%	1	1%	0	0%
EMS, bystander, and law enforcement administered	1	0%	1	1%	1	3%
Naloxone administered by unspecified person	2	0%	0	0%	0	0%
History of prior overdose	145	30%	37	22%	4	12%

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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 2025, nonpharmaceutical fentanyl was the most frequent cause of death, mentioned on the death certificate of 87 (66%) victims. The small number of confirmed cases in 2025 makes analysis based on single drug categories less meaningful; totals may fluctuate greatly as toxicology results are confirmed. 

Fentanyl is nearly always found in combination with multiple other drugs. Heroin involvement, declining rapidly inrecent years, was reported as a cause of death in 6 (5%) of 2025 deaths, 11 (2%) of 2024 deaths and 12 (2%) of 2023 deaths. Xylazine was identified as a co-intoxicant with fentanyl for the first time in 2021. Among 131 confirmed deaths in 2025, there were 15 cases (11%) with xylazine listed in addition to fentanyl as a cause of death.

Stimulants continue to increase as a cause of death, usually in combination with other drugs, particularly fentanyl. Cocaine-involved fatalities constituted 57 (44%) of confirmed cases so far in 2025, nearly the same as 2024 (43%) and an increase from 37% in 2023. Fentanyl is mentioned as a cause in combination with cocaine in 39 cases, 68% of 2025 year-to-date cocaine cases. Methamphetamine was cited as a cause of death in 58 (44%) of the confirmed fatal overdoses so far in 2025, higher than in 2024 (38%); 41 (71%) of the methamphetamine deaths also involved fentanyl as a co-intoxicant cause of death. Cocaine and methamphetamine are named together on 15 (11%) death certificates in 2025, in most of those cases (12, 80%) as co-intoxicants of fentanyl.

Table 10. Key drug categories and combinations causing death among confirmed overdoses

Cause of death (alone or in combination with other drugs) Sample size for confirmed cases only	Jan–Dec 2024 Est. N = 490		Jan–May 2025  Est. N = 131		May 2025  Est. N = 29
Fentanyl or fentanyl analogs	339	69%	87	66%	11	38%
Heroin	5	1%	6	5%	0	0%
Cocaine	12	2%	57	44%	3	10%
Methamphetamine	213	43%	58	44%	10	34%
Pharmaceutical opioids**	11	2%	24	18%	0	0%
Fentanyl and heroin	3	1%	6	5%	0	0%
Fentanyl and cocaine	12	2%	39	30%	2	7%
Fentanyl and methamphetamine	161	33%	41	31%	8	28%
Fentanyl and xylazine	72	15%	15	11%	1	3%
Fentanyl and tramadol	1	0%	0	0%	0	0%