National Take-Back Initiative Press Conference

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Attorney General Janet T. Mills

On September 8th, Attorney General Janet T. Mills, flanked by law enforcement officers and community members, spoke to a crowd in the Hall of Flags about the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative scheduled for September 25th. Her remarks were as follows:

Too often we hear the phrase, ?I?m from the government. I?m here to help you.?

National Take-Back Initiative Press Conference Wednesday, September 8, 2010Attorney General Janet T. Mills

Too often we hear the phrase, ?I?m from the government. I?m here to help you.?

Today the members of the state, federal and local governments ask for your help in combating one of the biggest threats to our social fabric in this decade: prescription drug diversion and abuse.

In the last nine years, the number of deaths from misuse of prescription drugs has more than doubled.

Attorney General Janet T. Mills announced that the State of Maine joined the federal government and other states to reach an agreement in principle with pharmaceutical manufacturer, Allergan, Inc., and Allergan USA, Inc. to settle allegations of improper off-label marketing of the drug Botox. Allergan will pay the states and the federal government $225 million dollars, of which $33 million dollars is for Medicaid nationwide. The MaineCare Program will receive $74,297.00 as restitution of Medicaid monies spent from the settlement.

Maine Attorney General Janet Mills joined Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and ten other state attorneys general in urging the Food and Drug Administration to adopt stringent guidelines for food labeling.

In a joint statement to the FDA, the twelve attorneys general proposed that food products contain ?front-of-package? labels containing complete nutritional information, both good and bad, in common sense language to help consumers make healthy food choices for their families.

Contact: Kate Simmons (207) 215-5088

Augusta - Shortly after 9 am a police-involved shooting occurred near the Route 17 gate of the Togus Veterans Affairs Medical Center. James F. Popkowski, 37, of Medway, was fatally injured. Togus police officer Thomas Park and Sergeant Ron Dunham of the Maine Warden Service used deadly force against Popkowski. Warden Joey Lefebrve witnessed the confrontation, but did not use deadly force. An autopsy will be conducted on Popkowski at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner tomorrow.

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For Immediate ReleaseThursday, June 24, 2010Contact: Kate Simmons (207) 626-8577

Augusta ? Attorney General Janet T. Mills announced today a $173 million settlement with six manufacturers of Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) computer chips who ?conspired in an illegal global scheme to fix prices.?

Contact:Judith Shaw, Office of Securities (207) 624-8551

Bill Norbert, FAME, (207) 620-3540

Kate Simmons, Office of the Attorney General, (207) 626-8577

Contact: John Archard, Tobacco Enforcement Coordinator, (207) 592-8149Kate Simmons (207) 626-8577

Augusta ? Attorney General Janet T. Mills and Health and Human Services Commissioner Brenda Harvey announced today that Maine is one of the first states to receive a competitive grant from the Food and Drug Administration to increase the enforcement of state and federal tobacco laws. Grant funds will help the state reverse the recent upward trend in teenage smoking rates. The rate of smoking amongst Maine high school students reached a low of 14% in 2007, but increased to 18% in 2009.

Contact: Kate Simmons (207) 626-8577

To recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Attorney General Janet T. Mills reminds Maine seniors and those who care for them that elder abuse can take many forms, including financial abuse from scam artists, as well as financial exploitation and physical and mental abuse.

Statement of Kate Simmons Regarding Law Enforcement?s Use of Deadly Force in Old Orchard Beach

Contact: Kate Simmons (207) 626-8577