Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that medical organizations in Brewer, Portland, Skowhegan, and Bangor have received a total of $4 million to combat substance and opioid use disorders.  The funding was awarded through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP).

“The opioid crisis is devastating far too many families and communities across our country,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement.  “This significant investment will expand access to crucial lifesaving prevention, treatment, and recovery treatments in Bangor, Portland, Skowhegan, and Brewer.  We remain committed to working with our partners at the state and local level to seek every possible solution to this troubling, nationwide crisis.”

The funding was allocated as follows:

·       Northern Light Health in Brewer received $1,000,000

·       MaineHealth in Portland received $1,000,000

·       Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan received $1,000,000

·       Wabanaki Health and Wellness in Bangor received $1,000,0000

The RCORP enhances and expands service delivery for substance use and opioid use disorders in rural communities.  The program aims to implement prevention, treatment, and recovery activities tailored to communities’ unique needs.