BANGOR, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today delivered welcoming remarks at the start of Governor Janet Mills’ 4th Annual Opioid Response Summit highlighting the importance of Maine communities coming together to combat the opioid epidemic, and how state, local, and federal partnerships can help address the devastating crisis that is taking the lives of nearly two Maine people a day. During his remarks, King also stressed the critical role that gathering to share ideas and information has in addressing the epidemic, lauded new funding for mental health services, and thanked Governor Mills’ for her vital leadership in the fight against opioids.

“Maine has a unique sense of community – we look out for each other, care about our neighbors, and work together to make our state a better place. That community is what makes Maine special, and it’s how we will beat the opioid epidemic,” said Senator King. “As families across our state struggle with the increased burdens of the pandemic, we’ve experienced a secondary mental health epidemic that has fueled a tragic surge in drug overdoses and deaths. Together, we can take on this crisis and provide our loved ones struggling with substance use disorders the help they need, and that starts with action like today’s conference. Governor Mills’ Opioid Response Summit is an invaluable opportunity to find solutions to the epidemic, support our healthcare providers, and align stakeholders in this fight of across all levels. It was a privilege to join Governor Mills’ annual summit, I’m so deeply grateful for her commitment – and the commitment of government and private sector partners across the state – to addressing this crisis. We can beat this crisis together – so let’s stay together, and keep working.”

Senator King has made combating the opioid crisis one of his highest priorities in Washington. In the draft of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, King has secured significant investments to improve drug shipment interdiction, an area where he has long called for more resources. In the Fiscal Year 2022 budget, he secured new federal investments in our nation’s response to the ongoing opioid and substance use disorder (SUD) epidemic. He also secured nearly $1 million for SUD treatment for Maine through the American Rescue Plan.