AUGUSTA – Rep. Nina Milliken, D-Blue Hill, has been accepted to the Opioid Policy Fellows program established by the National
Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The program provides an opportunity for collaboration among legislators and researchers from across the country to foster solutions related to opioid misuse and overdose, and to identify actionable steps for use in legislators’ home states.
Milliken is a strong advocate for Mainers who are in recovery or seeking substance use services. She has sponsored successful legislation to reduce overdose deaths and frequently participates in community events addressing the opioid epidemic, like the annual Overdose Awareness Day in Bangor. Milliken sees her participation in the Opioid Policy Fellows program as an opportunity to expand on that work.
“I am a person in long-term recovery. I know that life in active addiction is traumatizing, and all too often, it’s deadly. I am grateful to be on this side of substance use disorder, and it brings me great joy to use my experience to advocate for increasing support systems for folks still living with this disease,” said Milliken. “I am proud to have been chosen as an NCSL Opioid Policy Fellow and to have the opportunity to bring further resources to Maine to combat the opioid epidemic and help save lives.”
To date, Maine has brought in over $34 million in legal settlements with drug manufacturers and others responsible for the opioid epidemic. The state has taken significant steps to address the crisis, which have resulted in a continuous decline in overdose deaths – but there is always more to be done.
Only 20 to 25 legislators from around the country are selected to be Opioid Policy Fellows and participate in the year-long program.
Milliken is serving her second term in the Maine House of Representatives and represents Blue Hill, Brooksville, Castine, Sedgwick, Surry and Trenton. She serves on the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Milliken) | 305-965-2744