Maine Recovery Action Project

Today is National Naloxone Awareness Day. 💜

Naloxone is a safe, easy to use, lifesaving medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and restore breathing during a medical emergency. It is not addictive and will not cause harm to someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose, instead it will have no effect at all.

Many people are surprised to learn that anyone, any age, can carry naloxone. Several nasal versions of the medication are available for purchase over the counter (OTC). In Maine, naloxone is also available without an individual prescription for community distribution to help ensure it is available when and where it is needed.

At the Access Center, naloxone keychains have become a popular way to keep this life-saving medication close at hand. Because overdoses can happen anywhere, having naloxone nearby can make all the difference in a life or death medical emergency.

Recognized nationally in 2023 and now officially recognized in Maine, National Naloxone Awareness Day reminds us that education, compassion, and access to life-saving tools is best practice in keeping our communities safe. 💜

The Falmouth Town Council allocated $107,000 in opioid settlement funds to Falmouth schools for substance misuse prevention and student mental health support. The funding will support student surveys, prevention planning, and student-led mental health initiatives in partnership with the Jed Foundation and Active Minds.

Read more:

pressherald.com-Falmouth sends 107000 in opioid settlement funds to schools.pdf

June 9th is right around the corner. Check out our primary guide!

Westbrook Fire Department is launching a pilot program that would allow paramedics to administer Suboxone in the field after reversing an overdose with naloxone. Officials say the initiative aims to reduce repeat overdoses while creating a quicker connection to treatment and recovery support services.

The program will involve partnerships with local behavioral health responders and MaineHealth Comprehensive Addiction Medicine, with additional EMS and fire departments expected to join the effort in the future.

Read more: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AombRiuHEOLTaYnUiBjYNoY9rTfYqj6R/view?usp=drive_link

We are excited to share with you our 2026 ME-RAP Legislative Report & Scorecards: 132nd Legislature!

This report outlines our statewide policy work over the last two years to address the needs, barriers, and hopes of Mainers impacted by SUD. Inside, you’ll find summaries of our priority legislation and other key bills from the session, including what each bill proposed, our position, and its final outcome.

The report also includes legislative scorecards that measure how often lawmakers voted in alignment with our policy positions on priority bills.

Read the full report here: https://tinyurl.com/MERAP132

It was an emotional day in Augusta. By a razor slim margin, the Maine Senate upheld Governor Mills' veto of LD 1911.

Our hearts are heavy for the 123,000 Mainers who stood to gain second chances that they have already earned.

We want to acknowledge the courage and vulnerability of the many Mainers who publicly shared their experiences of living with the weight of a past record. Your voices changed the hearts and minds of many.

We are forever grateful to Senator Rachel Talbot Ross for her fearlessness, tenacity, and years of work on criminal records reform that served as the foundation for this policy. She collaborated with stakeholders at every step of the way, garnering bi-partisan support for Clean Slate in the Judiciary Committee and the Legislature. Thank you Senator for leading the charge and for never giving up!

To the members of the Judiciary Committee, we appreciate your diligence and sustained commitment throughout multiple work sessions and revisions, culminating in a final bill shaped by the input of many stakeholders.

We have an immense amount of gratitude for our coalition partners that have worked tirelessly in our shared pursuit of a safer Maine in which more families can access stability and economic security.

We want to thank the many advocates, legislators, organizations, legal experts, medical and social work professionals, prosecutors, businesses, and chambers of commerce that joined us in advancing this grassroots campaign.

We look forward to what lies ahead in the 133rd Legislature!

🚨Please join us in calling on Maine lawmakers to override Governor Mills' veto of Clean Slate Maine! 🚨

tinyurl.com/nold1911veto

Aroostook County is the last region in Maine to establish a drug treatment court, and for communities in northern Maine, this is a significant step forward.

Treatment courts offer an alternative to incarceration by connecting people with substance use disorder to structured recovery support, accountability, and services.

In a region where access to care can be limited by distance and resources, expanding options like this can make a meaningful difference for individuals, families, and communities.

To read the full article: https://drive.google.com/file/d/199Y8wxlqHVyQSENC8_i5CJoIWbwNxHMQ/view?usp=sharing