Supporters of criminalizing drug use argue that it pushes users into the shadows and makes it more difficult for them to receive help.
By Evan Popp, Maine Morning Star
Maine experienced a decrease in overdose deaths by 2023. Advocates and legislators say that despite the hundreds of drug-related death last year, the state still faces a serious crisis.
The total number of confirmed or suspected overdoses in 2023 was 607, down 16 percent from the 2022 record total. In addition to the 607 deaths last year, there were also 9,047 nonfatal confirmed overdoses (compared with 9,760 in 2022).
Courtney Gary Allen, the organizing director of Maine Recovery Advocacy Project said: “It’s difficult to talk about it because there were still 607 deaths last year. I’m not going to celebrate this in any way.” “This is not to say that there hasn’t been a decrease, but I believe we should all be proud of our collective efforts on this issue.”
Gary-Allen pointed to investments made by Gov. The Janet Mills administration, the bipartisan consensus on the seriousness of substance abuse and the need to address it, as well as the passage of Good Samaritan Law, which created enhanced protections against prosecution at the site of an overdose in order to encourage people call for help, could be reasons for a reduction in deaths by 2023. Other people have cited increased availability of naloxone, which reverses opioid overdoses.
Gary-Allen says there’s still much to be done to combat the overdose epidemic.
She said, “I still see the faces of people who died from drug overdoses in my mind.”
A proposal that is supported by the recovery community, and sponsored by Rep. Lydia Crafts(D-Newcastle), would decriminalize personal possession of illegal substances as well as invest in a variety of treatment options.
Supporters of this measure claim that criminalizing drugs pushes people in the shadows and makes it more difficult for them to receive help. Proponents of the measure say that policing drug use, and imprisoning those who commit crimes related to substance abuse, takes money from treatment.
Analysts estimate that the state would save $45 million per year if it did not punish people who possess small amounts of drug. According to the proposal, the money saved would be used to expand what many advocates believe are the often scarce treatment options in the state.
Proposal faces pushback
Mills has voiced concerns about the decriminalization measure, which would expand the treatment system. Mills is also opposed to decriminalization, according to a representative of the governor’s office who said in January at an hearing that “at a time… when… street drugs are more lethal than ever before,” Mills cannot support it.
Mills is a Democrat who has been sceptical of reforms to criminal justice and drug policy.
The decriminalization legislation is co-sponsored with Republicans like House Minority leader Billy Bob Faulkingham from Winter Harbor, and Reps. Lucas Lanigan and David Boyer from Sanford. However, it may not be well received by other GOP members.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Republican Senate minority leader Trey Stewart from Aroostook expressed his skepticism regarding the proposal.
Stewart stated, “I believe there has been a general reluctance to go this far.” “I would say that this is the opposite end of the spectrum.” There is a middle way that includes holding people accountable, and definitely those who are dealing [drugs].
Faulkingham said that at the same event that the GOP cannot exclusively promote punishing drug use.
He said, “The Republican Party has a reputation for being a party who is only interested in enforcement and drug enforcement.” “But, I think that from this point onwards, you’re going see a more holistic Republican Party approach which takes recovery seriously.”
Republicans have historically voted against initiatives to decriminalize, while Democrats are more supportive. However, some Democrats sided with the majority of Republicans to defeat a decriminalization proposal in 2021.
Gary-Allen stated that she is interested in the results at this time. She said that passing the decriminalization legislation remains a top priority for the recovery community, but she also wants to ensure the bill has the support of Mills as well as legislative Republicans. She said that the bill could be amended as it goes through the legislative process.
Gary-Allen stated that another priority was a bill which proposes to use a portion from cannabis tax revenues to fund recovery centers in the state. This measure was already passed by the Legislature, but it is currently on the Special Appropriations Table awaiting funding.
Republicans introduce other bills
At the press briefing on Tuesday, Republicans discussed a number of other bills related to substance abuse. Brad Farrin, R-Somerset, proposed that the state study its substance abuse treatment system and identify effective practices to correct shortcomings. Farrin also proposed a bill that would mandate education for grades 6-12 about the dangers associated with fentanyl, which was the leading cause of overdoses by 2023.
Farrin discussed at the event how the crisis of overdose has affected him personally. He said that his daughter Haley was among the 723 individuals who died of an overdose in 2020.
Farrin stated, “We want our heads buried in the sand to think that we won’t have an impact and it wont touch our life.” “And I am telling you that it does.” If you haven’t yet been affected by it, then I promise you that you will.
Farrin stated that Republicans support a crisis approach that includes education, enforcement and treatment/harm-reduction.
But the idea of using law enforcement to combat substance abuse has been questioned by those in recovery and treatment providers. These advocates argue that substance use disorder should be treated more as a health issue than a criminal offense because it is a chronic disease.
Gary-Allen, who watched the Republican presser on Tuesday, said she was encouraged to see the GOP taking a multifaceted approach to the drug crisis.
She said, “I want to give credit to them.” Over the past few years, they have done a lot for the recovery community. We sometimes disagree about criminal justice reform, but prevention is very important. It needs to be the focus of attention.
The original publication of this story was by Maine Morning Star.
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