Washington, D.C. —U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will award the State of Maine $2,039,029 to fight the heroin and opioid abuse epidemic.  HHS is releasing a total of nearly $485 million in funding to all 50 states to combat drug addiction. 

“The astonishing rate of overdoses has increased rapidly in recent years and has shown no signs of abating.  Last year, overdoses claimed the life of more than one Mainer per day, making this one of the top causes of death in our state and affecting far too many families and communities in Maine and across the country,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.  “This funding will support vital programs that provide hope, recovery, and healing to Mainers who are struggling with addiction.”

The funding provided by HHS was authorized through the 21st Century Cures Act, which was championed by Senators Collins and King and signed into law in December 2016.  That Act included five provisions authored by Senator Collins.  Additionally, last week, Senator Collins introduced three bipartisan bills to combat the opioid and heroin abuse epidemic. 

Last year, there were a record 418 deaths from drug overdose in Maine, an 11 percent increase compared to the year before.  Nationally, there were more than 63,600 drug overdose deaths in 2016.

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