Combatting Drug Addiction
Criminal Justice and Public Safety and Health and Human Services Committees Vote to Support An Act to Combat Drug Addiction
AUGUSTA | Today the Criminal Justice and Public Safety and Health and Human Services Committees voted to support An Act to Combat Drug Addiction Through Enforcement, Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery (LD 1537).
The $4.8m plan, sponsored by Senate President Mike Thibodeau (R-Waldo) and House Speaker Mark Eves (D-North Berwick) represents a bi-partisan effort to support prevention, treatment and enforcement strategies to address Maine’s serious drug crisis.
The Criminal Justice Committee was charged with making recommendations to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee on Parts A and B of the bill.
Related to Part A, funding for 10 MDEA agents, all but 2 members of the committee voted to support ongoing funding of these positions. Representatives Ricky Long (R-Sherman) and Mike Timmons (R-Cumberland) voted in opposition.
Related to Part B of the bill, all CJPS committee members supported funding for law enforcement initiatives linking people to treatment and recovery, though members differed on who should administer the funds.
Representative Lori Fowle (D-Vassalboro), Chair of CJPS, said “The vote today showed a strong commitment by Criminal Justice and Public Safety members to help solve the drug crisis we have here in Maine.”
The Health and Human Services committee, charged with making recommendations on Parts C-E, responded to concerns raised by the Department of Health and Human services at a public hearing held Tuesday by making adjustments to the bill. The committee then showed bipartisan support on the amended version.
“The HHS Committee heard the message loud and clear from law enforcement, medical professionals and from people struggling with this disease and working towards their own recovery- we need to make further investments in recovery and treatment,” said Representative Drew Gattine (D-Westbrook). “ We will continue to tackle this epidemic throughout the session as we work on other bills, but today we showed bipartisan support for a down payment to solving the drug crisis.”
On Tuesday, members of three legislative committees heard overwhelming support for the plan including testimony from approximately 100 members of the public representing law enforcement, medical professionals, people in recovery, and parents. Supportive organizations included the Maine Chiefs Association, the Maine Sheriff’s Association, the Maine Medical Association, Western Maine Addiction Task Force, AARP, Mayor’s Coalition, Maine Primary Care Association, Maine Nurse Practitioner Association and others.
Representatives Joyce Maker (R-Calais) and William Tuell (R- East Machias) also testified in support of the bill. “Behind me I see Republicans and Democrats, as well as members of the enforcement, prevention, and treatment communities and I believe that when you see a united front on each facet of a complex problem- it’s very compelling,” said Representative Maker. “These are the people on the front lines of the problem, and we should trust what they have to say.”
For more information about the Maine House, visit: www.speakereves.com. Follow Speaker Eves on Facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/SpeakerMarkEves.