Gordon Smith’s workplace will get calls day by day from individuals struggling to seek out assist with substance use dysfunction.
Because the state’s director of opioid response, he hears from moms and dads who’ve misplaced a member of the family to an overdose. And he hears from those that attempt to get assist, however can’t discover it.
“A person was taken to the emergency division and after 5 hours was actually instructed we’ll get to you after we deal with the people who find themselves sick,” Smith mentioned Wednesday. “We have to do higher.”
Smith’s feedback got here throughout a dialogue amongst members of the Committee to Examine Court docket-ordered Therapy for Substance Use Dysfunction, which is able to ahead 5 suggestions to the complete Legislature to think about when it reconvenes in January.
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Chief amongst them is that the Legislature wants to supply extra money — the committee didn’t specify an quantity — to battle substance use dysfunction and enhance entry to therapy companies.
The committee is assembly at a time when the state is seeing rising numbers of overdose deaths, with a record-setting 631 final yr.
The committee additionally emphasised the necessity to handle alcohol use dysfunction, calling on all healthcare suppliers within the state to step as much as assist those that are scuffling with dependancy. Final yr, 667 Mainers died on account of alcohol-related causes, in accordance with the committee’s draft report.
“When you persistently don’t fund enough psychological well being and substance use dysfunction companies what you’re going to get is the boat we’re sitting in now,” Rep. Colleen Madigan (D-Waterville) mentioned. “There’s numerous alcohol deaths, there’s numerous overdose deaths, there’s numerous of us dwelling down by the river which have co-occurring issues.”
Madigan mentioned as a result of individuals aren’t getting the companies they want, they’re getting sicker and want extra intensive intervention as soon as they lastly get assist.
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“Folks shouldn’t spend their life in distress due to this and households shouldn’t be damaged due to this,” she mentioned.
One of many suggestions is to seek out methods to cut back the stigma related to substance use dysfunction. It’s a difficulty in any respect healthcare services, together with emergency rooms and first care doctor places of work, mentioned Malory Shaughnessy, government director of the Alliance for Habit and Psychological Well being Companies of Maine.
“A part of the destigmatizing substance use dysfunction is acknowledging that it’s all over the place in our communities,” she mentioned. “Many instances individuals go to their common suppliers and the difficulty doesn’t come up as a result of individuals don’t need to discuss it.”
Statistics present the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a rise in alcohol-related deaths nationally and in Maine. One nationwide examine cited a 25% enhance in alcohol-related deaths between 2019 and 2020. In Maine, deaths on account of alcohol elevated greater than 27% in the identical interval.
On the subject of funding to handle the opioid disaster, the state may have about $130 million over the subsequent 18 years, because of settlements with one opioid producer and three distributors, in accordance with the committee report.
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Smith described “the large effort that that is going to take to show this round” and mentioned the broader image to handle opioid dependancy consists of prevention, restoration and maintaining individuals alive with hurt discount efforts.
“Now with the pandemic considerably in a unique mode, at the least if not utterly out of the woods, we’re now left with among the residual results of which this can be a half,” he mentioned.
In a new statement, Independent Maine Senator Angus King’s office said he’s “concerned” by President Biden’s much-criticized debate performance, but stopped short of calling for him to end his re-election bid.
A spokesman for King said the president “should take every opportunity in the coming days to establish his capacity to continue the campaign and the job of the presidency through unscripted interviews and direct interactions with voters.”
“It is only through such a public process that he can demonstrate that Thursday was simply an off night and that his past ability to define the issues and seek common sense solutions remains undiminished,” spokesman Matthew Felling said in the statement Saturday.
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King is an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats.
Biden continues to face pressure to bow out of the race after what many, including some within his own party, saw as a listless and lifeless performance. The 81-year-old Democrat’s showing at the debate left supporters, prognosticators, and some Democratic members of Congress wondering whether he’s able to forcefully campaign against his Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, and, if elected, carry out the duties of the office for another four years.
Representative Jared Golden, a Maine Democrat, last week drew criticism for saying that he believed Trump will win the election. “Donald Trump is going to win. And I’m okay with that,” Golden wrote in an op-ed published in the Bangor Daily News.
Golden, a marine veteran, said he will not vote for Trump. He also stopped short of saying Biden should drop out of the race.
US Representative Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Salem who briefly ran for president in 2020, said explicitly that Biden should “step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump.”
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Others, similar to King’s statement, walked a fine line: Governor Maura Healey, who’s been a leading surrogate for Biden, said Biden should “listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump.” She added that Biden “saved our democracy in 2020 and has done an outstanding job over the last four years.”
Jackie Kucinich of the Globe staff contributed.
Sean Cotter can be reached at sean.cotter@globe.com. Follow him @cotterreporter.
Evan Anastas, York junior midfielder: A repeat All-State selection, Anastas was named an All-American by USA Lacrosse. He recorded 49 goals and 20 assists, helping the Wildcats reach the Class B championship game for a second straight season. Anastas has committed to Bryant University.
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Indi Backman
Indi Backman, Falmouth junior defense: The defensive stalwart on a team that allowed 10 or more goals just once in 17 games, Backman had 31 caused turnovers and 57 ground balls. He also provided a little offense, with six goals and five assists. One of Falmouth’s four All-Americans, Backman has already committed to Merrimack College.
Colin Blackburn
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Colin Blackburn, Cape Elizabeth senior defense: With 101 ground balls and 33 caused turnovers, Blackburn was adept at getting the ball back into the hands of his teammates. His defensive ability was a key reason why the Capers were able to advance to a fourth consecutive Class A state championship game. Blackburn also added six goals and three assists. He’ll play lacrosse at Wentworth College in Boston.
Hayden Davis
Hayden Davis, Falmouth sophomore attack: Davis emerged as a key player in Falmouth’s run to the Class A title. He scored six goals and added an assist in the Navigators’ 18-5 win over Cape Elizabeth in the championship game. His four first-quarter goals helped stake Falmouth to the lead. The All-American finished the season with 40 goals and 32 assists.
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Gio Guerrette
Gio Guerrette, Falmouth junior midfielder: A repeat All-State selection and a two-time USA Lacrosse All-American, Guerrette was an offensive force, with 57 goals and 15 assists. He also grabbed 61 ground balls. He plans to continue his lacrosse career at Quinnipiac after he graduates from Falmouth next year.
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Joey Guerrette
Joey Guerrette, Falmouth junior midfielder: Guerrette joined his brother as an All-American this season, producing 46 goals, 27 assists and 38 ground balls for the Class A champion Navigators. He tallied three goals in the state championship game, and four in an 14-1 win over Scarborough in the semifinals. Guerrette plans to attend the University of Massachusetts, where he’ll play lacrosse.
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Ward Jenkins
Ward Jenkins, Yarmouth junior defense: The best defender for the Class B champion Clippers, Jenkins was routinely responsible for locking down the opposition’s top offensive player. A junior captain, Jenkins earned USA Lacrosse All-America honors. He recorded 35 ground balls and 30 caused turnovers. Jenkins plans to continue his lacrosse career at Maryland-Baltimore County.
Ben Kerbel
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Ben Kerbel, Scarborough senior goalie: Kerbel’s play in net was essential to the Red Storm’s improvement from five wins in 2023 to 11 wins this season as Scarborough reached the Class A semifinals. Kerbel made 232 saves and had a 62.3% save percentage. He made 19 saves in a semifinal loss to eventual state champion Falmouth. He plans to attend the University of Massachusetts and study mechanical engineering.
Keegan Lathrop
Keegan Lathrop, Cape Elizabeth senior attack: The 2023 Varsity Maine Player of the Year, Lathrop had another strong season, scoring 55 goals to go with 30 assists, 61 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers. A two-time All-American, Lathrop was a key player on a team that reached the state championship game each of his four seasons and won three Class A titles. He’ll continue his lacrosse career at the University of Delaware.
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Beckett Mehlhorn
Beckett Mehlhorn, South Portland junior attack: The Red Riots’ top scorer for three straight season, Mehlhorn scored 51 goals this season. With more attention from opposing defenses, Mehlhorn also became a strong distributor and picked up 31 assists. He was named one of the state’s 10 USA Lacrosse All-Americans. He should be one of the top offensive players in the state again as a senior in 2025.
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Colter Olson
Colter Olson, Yarmouth senior attack: The Varsity Maine Player of the Year, Olson enjoyed one of the best offensive seasons in state history, scoring 82 goals and 63 assists while leading the Clippers to the Class B championship. Olson was a leader on a young team. He assisted on the tying goal with two seconds left in the fourth quarter of the state championship game, then scored the winner in overtime. After producing more than 300 points in three seasons at Yarmouth, Olson will play at Rutgers University next season.
Chase Ranger
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Chase Ranger, Mt. Blue senior midfielder: A two-year captain for the Cougars, Ranger scored 65 goals and added 19 assists to help Mt. Blue to a 10-win season. A strong two-way player, Ranger collected more than 100 ground balls and forced more than 30 turnovers. He was selected KVAC Player of the Year by the league’s coaches. Ranger will continue his lacrosse career at St. Joseph’s College.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Geoff Arris, Deering: Under Arris, the Rams made dramatic improvement, winning 10 games and earning the No. 4 seed in the Class A playoffs. It was a four-win improvement from 2023, and just two seasons removed from a one-win campaign in 2022. This was Deering’s first winning season since 2017.
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Varsity Maine Boys’ Lacrosse Player of the Year: Colter Olson, Yarmouth
Public safety officials closed down a section of Riverside Drive in Augusta on Friday, not long after a shelter-in-place order was issued to area residents. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel
AUGUSTA — An hour after a shelter-in-place order was issued by text alert to residents in the area of the 600 block of Riverside Drive on Friday, the city of Augusta announced the closure of Riverside Drive between Route 3 and Stevens Road.
Police issued a shelter-in-place order to residents in the area of 600 Riverside Drive in Augusta on Friday. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel
“We ask motorists, pedestrians and visitors to seek alternative routes until further notice,” the alert read.
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While the nature of the incident prompting the elevated police response was not immediately clear, Shannon Moss, public information officer for the Maine Department of Public Safety, confirmed Friday night that the Maine State Police Tactical Team was responding to Riverside Drive.
A request for comment from the Augusta Police Department was not immediately returned.
Residents in the area reported on social media they were seeing a heavy law enforcement presence in the area and one poster reported a helicopter flying overhead.
Riverside Drive runs along the eastern bank of the Kennebec River and is also U.S. Route 201 and state Route 100.
This story will be updated.
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Central Maine arrest log: June 29 – July 5
