AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - The number of drug overdoses is growing in Maine during the coronavirus pandemic, with a significant increase in the first quarter and preliminary data suggesting the the trend is continuing, the attorney general’s office says.
The disturbing findings, released Friday, confirm that the opioid crisis “has intensified nationally in the midst of the global pandemic,” Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey said in a statement.
There were 127 deaths caused by drugs in the first quarter, a 23% increase over the fourth quarter of 2019, the report said. Preliminary estimates point to about 235 drug overdose deaths for the first half of the year.
The numbers track with national figures that are “attributed to the effects of the pandemic, including social isolation, economic difficulty, and reluctance to seek medical attention. Interruptions in drug supplies internationally have resulted in substitutions and combinations that may be contributing to additional vulnerabilities to overdose,” the report said.
“Every number in this report is the life of a loved one lost. We grieve with the families, employers and communities diminished by this devastating public health crisis, a public health crisis now made worse by a pandemic that is limiting access to life-saving services and increasing isolation for people in recovery,” said Maine Gov. Janet Mills.
People struggling with substance abuse disorder need to know “that even during the pandemic, help is still available,” she said. “You are not alone.”
In other coronavirus-related news:
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THE NUMBERS
Another resident has died and 38 more positive cases were reported Friday by the Maine Center for Disease Control.
That brings the total number of deaths to 115 and the total number of people who’ve tested positive for the coronavirus to 3,636, the Maine CDC said.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause more severe illness and can lead to death.
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SCHOOL APPROACHING
Mills said Friday that all schools must follow health and safety precautions if they decide to return to classroom instruction this fall. The precautions include the use of face coverings and the practice of social distancing.
School superintendents and school boards around the state will also receive information about a new three-tiered health advisory system, Mills said. The system will advise that counties in Maine are categorized as “red,” “yellow” or “green.” Red means in-person instruction should not be conducted, yellow means a hybrid instruction model should be used and green means in-person instruction can be adopted.
Mills said $165 million in federal CARES Act money will support the school safety protocols. The money will be distributed to Maine school systems, she said. Mills characterized the funds as “start-up” money to help get schools back up and running.
“We will distribute these funds based on an equitable, weighted formula,” Mills said. “I recognize that more assistance may be needed by schools.”
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