Maine Drug Overdose Deaths At All-Time High

With 286 drug overdose deaths through the end of September, the number of deadly overdoses in Maine in 2016 has already surpassed last year's total, according to statistics released Monday by Attorney General Janet Mills.

In 2015, there were 272 deadly overdoses in Maine, the previous record high. Through the first three quarters of the year, there were 174 deaths.

“One person a day is dying from a drug overdose in Maine,” Mills said in a press release Monday. “I cannot stress how dangerous these drugs are. My Office is working with law enforcement around the state to stop the trafficking of these drugs in Maine."

According to the release, fentanyl and fentanyl analogs are largely to blame for the spike in drug-related deaths.

A breakdown of Maine's 286 overdose deaths in 2016:

• 195 (68%) are due to at least one illicitly manufactured drug (includes heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, or non-pharmaceutical fentanyl), alone or in combination with other drugs or alcohol.

• 182 (64%) are due to illicitly manufactured opioid drugs (includes heroin/morphine, non-pharmaceutical fentanyl and its analogues, U-47700, and kratom), alone or in combination with other drugs or alcohol.

• 176 (62%) are due to at least one pharmaceutical drug (includes a wide variety of drugs available by prescription or over the counter), alone or in combination with other drugs or alcohol.

• 95 (33%) are due to at least one pharmaceutical opioid drug (e.g., methadone, oxycodone), alone or in combination with other drugs or alcohol.

• 92 (49%) are due to a combination of illicitly manufactured and pharmaceutical drug.

"Maine must expand access to detox beds and long-term treatment so that people in the grips of addiction can find hope and live productive lives." Mills said. "With a new legislature convening soon, we need an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to combat this epidemic in a smart, nonpartisan and comprehensive way.”