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BATH

Maine’s opiate crisis and its impact on every Maine community was the topic addressed this week during the United Way’s annual meeting in Bath.

“We cannot arrest our way out of the opiate crisis,” said Bath Chief of Police Mike Field, a guest speaker. “It’s a community problem and we need a multi-pronged approach of enforcement, treatment and public education.”

Field was joined by Tom Kivler, senior director of Behavioral Health at Mid Coast-Parkview Health, to speak on: “The Opiate Crisis in Mid Coast Maine: How Bad Is It? What Can Be Done?” at United Way’s annual meeting on Wednesday. “The opiate crisis is a problem which exists in every community in Maine,” said Field, “ and there is no longer a stereotype user — addicts are people like you and me.” To address the escalating crisis, a Maine Opiate Collaborative was assembled, including leadership by U. S. Attorney Thomas Delahanty, Maine Attorney General Janet Mills, Maine Public Safety Commissioner John Morris, Maine Sherriff Association President Sagadahoc County Sherriff Joel Merry, and Eric Haram, director of Outpatient Behavioral Health at Mid Coast- Parkview. The collaborative has made several recommendations, including increased intelligence sharing between state and local police to better prosecute drug dealers. Kivler talked about neurobiological theory around addiction, stating that “addiction is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain; they change its structure and how it works.” Kivler discussed a variety of effective treatments for opiate addiction, including medication-assisted treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and a program for addicted pregnant women called “ Snuggle Me.” “The most common place people get illicit opiates is the medicine cabinet of someone they know,” said Kivler, who implored attendees to dispose of prescription drugs correctly. “The community can now dispose of medications at many law enforcement agencies, and some pharmacies.” Field and Kivler both mentioned investment in early childhood as a key to prevention. Kivler referenced Dr. Vincent Felitti’s 1998 study on adverse childhood experiences ( ACEs) to show how important the first year of life is: “The critical brain development that occurs in the first 1,000 days leads to solid cognitive function, social intelligence and emotional intelligence. Without this strong foundation, a child’s risk profile goes up across all domains of health and social functioning.” High ACE scores directly correlate with high rates of adult smoking, alcoholism and intravenous drug use. One conclusion of the study is “ the cause of addiction is experience related rather than substance dependent,” said Kivler. Adverse childhood experiences occur from more than just everyday stress of life. “ It’s when situations of extreme stress are prolonged and unrelenting, in the absence of supportive adults, that a child is affected by toxic stress,” said Kivler. “These situations can include extreme poverty, physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, severe maternal depression, substance abuse, or family violence.” Kivler ended on a hopeful note: “As a community, we are on the right track to reducing the risk of addiction for our local children.”

• TO ADDRESS THE escalating crisis, a Maine Opiate Collaborative was assembled, including leadership by U.S. Attorney Thomas Delahanty, Maine Attorney General Janet Mills, Maine Public Safety Commissioner John Morris, Maine Sherriff Association President Sagadahoc County Sherriff Joel Merry, and Eric Haram, director of Outpatient Behavioral Health at Mid Coast- Parkview.



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