AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee voted Tuesday to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Colleen Madigan, D-Waterville, that would examine options for creating a substance use disorder hotline for health care providers.
As amended, LD 162 would require the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on the efficacy of a substance use disorder hotline and report its findings to the Health and Human Services Committee by January 2024.
"This study will be crucial to help us determine options for creating a substance use disorder hotline for health care providers," said Madigan. "We need to do everything we can to help our frontline providers treat substance use disorder safely and effectively. I'm proud that there was bipartisan support for this bill."
An estimated 10,110 drug overdoses occurred in Maine in 2022, resulting in 716 suspected or confirmed deaths, an increase from 632 deaths in 2021. In addition, alcohol-related emergency department visits also increased to 19,602 in 2020 from 18,682 in 2019.
The bill will be sent to the full Legislature for votes in the coming weeks.
Madigan is serving her fourth term in the Maine House and represents House District 64, which includes parts of Waterville and Winslow. She serves on the Health and Human Services Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Madigan], c. 305-965-2744