Maine awarded $2.3M federal grant to help fight opioid epidemic
Collins photo Courtesy / MEDILL DC, FLICKR; King photo Courtesy / U.S. Naval War College, FLICKR
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, helped secure $2.3 million in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funding to help it combat the opioid epidemic,
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Maine a $2.3 million grant to help it combat the opioid epidemic, according to an announcement from U.S. Sens. Angus King (I-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
“No community is immune from this heartbreaking epidemic that has taken a toll on far too many of our peers, friends and neighbors,” they said in a joint statement. “This important funding continues Maine’s efforts to fight the opioid crisis by expanding access to treatment and recovery of support service.
The Department of Health and Human Services has released a total of $500 million of the $1.5 billion State Opioid Response grants, which are administered by its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The funding was authorized through the 21st Century Cures Act, which was championed by Maine’s two senators and signed into law in Dec. 2016. The Act included five provisions authored by Collins.
In 2017, overdoses claimed the lives of more than one Mainer per day, making it one of the top causes of death in the state. In 2016, there were more than 63,600 drug overdoses across the country.
The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration runs a 24/7 national hotline that people can call to find treatment referral resources for mental health substance use disorders. The number is 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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