By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

Gordon Smith, the state’s newly-appointed opioid response director, spent Thursday morning at an elementary school where the theme was a world without opioids.

Then, in the early evening, Smith met with community members who have accepted that opioid addiction is a reality and have embarked on treating addicts with dignity and compassion.

On March 14, the very active Lake Region Substance Awareness Coalition (LRSAC) welcomed Smith to its meeting at the Bridgton Municipal Complex. 

Smith is traveling throughout the state to outline what steps Gov. Janet Mills’ administration has taken already and plans to take in the future to address the opioid-use crisis and to more effectively treat opioid addiction.

Topics included NARCAN supplies, MaineCare coverage for treatment and medication to reduce opioid cravings, small grants for community coalitions, treatment programs in prisons, anti-stigma campaigns and prevention education.

Giving first responders access to NARCAN has been very beneficial. NARCAN is the brand name of Naloxone, which can reverse an overdose in an emergency situation. 

“We’ve had more than 650 saves on this supply of NARCAN that was given to 81 police departments. That is pretty awesome,” Smith said.

“Our philosophy is we have to keep people alive. We cannot get them into recovery if we lose them on the way,” he said.

Opioid addiction “impacts every community. That is why community groups are so important. If you get everyone on board, there is something everyone can do,” Smith said.

During the community conversation, it became apparent how important networking is. Knowing which agencies do what gives addicts the best chance for recovery.

“We are going to spend a lot on treatment and harm reduction,” Smith said. “But, the truth is we should be spending the most on prevention to stop our sons and daughters from starting on that journey.”

Of equal importance to updating townspeople on the state administration’s goals, Smith was gathering information about the grass roots groups that have formed to help stem substance abuse.

Some good news is that there is grant funding available to allot $1,000 to $5,000 grants to nonprofits

“We found unused grants. We have funding to put together grants for the coalitions,” Smith said, adding, “The previous administration did not pursue the opportunity for federal money.”

LRSAC Director Dani Mooney summed up what the coalition hopes to do in the coming year.

“For 2019, we are building upon relationships and connections that we have made in last several years. In 2019, we will be hosting a roundtable event,” Mooney said.

LRSAC plans to “create a map of resources throughout the area to provide to caretakers and stakeholders,” she said.

Another goal is to educate providers on childhood trauma, adult trauma to assist them in providing assessments of the likelihood of a patient abusing opioids, she said.

LRSAC continues “to monitor the availability of NARCAN in our communities.”

“We are excited and encouraged that Gov. Mills has made substance abuse and the opioid crisis a priority in this administration,” Mooney said.

Thus, Smith was introduced.

“I am certain the first thing the governor would want me to say is: Thanks to you for everything you are doing,” Smith said. “The second thing the governor would want me to say is: What do you want? What do you need? How could the state help you?”

“If you had an opportunity to listen to the Gov. Mills’ inaugural address and the budget statement, a considerable portion of those were dedicated to this issue. She was delivering a message of hope and recovery,” Smith said.

On Thursday, Gov. Mill introduced a supplemental budget that would cover the cost of removing MaineCare limits for treating opioid addiction.

“We would never think to tell a diabetic patient, ‘We’ll give you insulin for two years and then you are on your own,’ ” Smith said.

The group talked about basic needs like housing, warm meals, transportation as well as helping addict to cope with childhood or adult traumas.

“If we don’t address the root cause of that, we are just rearranging the chairs on the Titanic,” Smith said. “This issue is impacting this state more than any other state except West Virginia. We have jobs. There are thousands of young men [and women] who aren’t looking for them.”

“We all know that everyone in Maine is affected by this whether you are” an employer, a healthcare provider or a family member, he said.

“We have so much hope. The governor has the right message out there, one of hope and recovery,” he said.