Governor LePage's Drug Crisis Summit Parcicipants Announced.

Drug Crisis Summit Participants Announced

08/18/2015 03:53 PM EDT

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, 207-287-2531

Top officials will meet to discuss resources and take action

AUGUSTA - The list of participants who are attending the Drug Crisis Summit held by Governor Paul R. LePage on Wednesday, August 26 is now available. The group, which will discuss public safety strategies to address the deadly drug epidemic facing Maine, consists of top officials from state, local and federal law enforcement agencies and the justice system, as well as addiction treatment and recovery advocates.

Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Morris released the list Tuesday morning, which includes U.S. Attorney Thomas Delahanty; Chief Justice Leigh Saufley; Attorney General Janet Mills; and State Emergency Medical Services Medical Director Dr. Matt Sholl.

"We must identify how to best utilize the scarce resources available to combat Maine's heroin crisis," said Governor LePage. "I am very impressed by the group of individuals who will be at the table, and I anticipate an exchange of information that will help us find solutions to improve the health and safety of all Mainers."

In recent years, the influx of illicit drugs into the state has risen in Maine, specifically heroin. More than 200 Mainers in 2014 died as a result of drug overdoses. The call to action and convening of the summit by Governor LePage came immediately after learning about 14 heroin overdoses in Portland, all of which occurred in a 24-hour period.

"Heroin has hit Maine hard and now we're starting to see an evolution of heroin," said Commissioner Morris. "Initially, we were seeing heroin and fentanyl mixed together, but we are now finding many more cases of fentanyl alone. It's a lot cheaper to produce than heroin. We must identify specific problem areas and seek solutions before we lose more lives."

The list of participants includes the following:

Governor - Paul R. LePage U.S. Attorney - Thomas Delahanty Chief Justice - Leigh Saufley Attorney General - Janet Mills State EMS Medical Director - Dr. Matt Sholl Commissioner Public Safety - John Morris Commissioner DHHS - Mary Mayhew U.S. Marshal - Noel March DEA SAC New England - Michael Ferguson Executive Director MCOP - Robert Swartz President Maine Sheriffs - Sheriff Joel Merry President Maine DA's -Stephanie Anderson Portland Police Chief - Michael Sauschuck Chief Customs & Border Patrol - Daniel Hiebert Colonel State Police - Robert Williams Colonel Warden Service - Joel Wilkinson Colonel Marine Patrol - Jon Cornish Maine Drug Enforcement - Roy McKinney Medical Examiner's Office - Dr. Marcella Sorg Maine National Guard - Brigadier General Gerald Bolduc President Acadia Hospital - Daniel Coffey Chairman Bangor Area Recovery Network - Bruce Campbell Chief Medical Officer Maine General Hospital - Dr. Steve Diaz

Regal Cinemas Begins Searching Movie-goers Bags Prior to Movie Admittance. No Notice Given.

After violent shootings at theaters in Tennessee and Louisiana, Regal, the nation's largest movie theater chain, will begin searching the bags and backpacks of movie goers.
Do you feel comfortable being searched before going to the movies?
According to movie goers, purses and diaper bags are being searched and backpacks or other large personal property are not being allowed into the cinemas.
No notice as to the beginning of this new procedure has been given, and according to many movie patrons, there is no sign outside of the cinemas which warn your personal property will be searched. But the policy has begun, with young Cinema employees searching the bags of their patrons last week.
If you attend movies at the Fox Run Mall in Newington, NH, or in Regal Cinemas in Hooksett, Concord, or in Brunswick, ME, your property will now be subject to search by Cinema employees.

AUGUST is NATIONAL BYSTANDER AWARENESS MONTH. What are YOU Doing to Prevent Fraud?

Don’t Stand by … Speak Up!

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications

 

August is National Bystander Awareness Month.

As a bystander, you can play an essential role in preventing violence, wrongdoings, and fraud. Have you ever witnessed something that you knew was wrong and wondered if you should report it? Did you want to say something, but didn’t because you were afraid of negative consequences? Don’t be afraid, because there are federal laws to protect you.
Reporting information or activity that you suspect is illegal, dishonest, or false is your right.
Reportable violations could be abuse of authority, gross waste of funds, a specific danger to public health or safety, or gross mismanagement.
Social Security’s programs were originally created to serve the American public, and 80 years later they still provide critical support to people of all ages. As good stewards of the tax dollars you entrust to us, we design our systems to protect the program against fraud, waste, and abuse.
But, our systems can’t catch everything. And that’s where you can help.
We need you to help us detect and deter fraud, waste, and abuse. Reporting wrongful acts can save lives and taxpayers dollars. Don’t let illegal or dishonest behavior happen on your watch. Learn what we are doing to fight fraud and how you can report fraud.

Maine's Death Rate From Heroin and Fentanyl Continue to Climb in First Half of 2015.

From today's pages of Maine .gov

 

 

 

First half of 2015 shows pace of drug deaths has not slowed - Heroin, Fentanyl deaths continue to surge

08/20/2015 02:25 PM EDT

(AUGUSTA) A preliminary analysis of drug deaths in Maine occurring in the first half of 2015 has shown that deaths related to heroin and fentanyl continue to climb, while the overall number of drug overdose deaths is on track to be similar to 2014 - which was the worst year on record.

In the first half of 2015 the number of people who died from a drug overdose in Maine stands at 105. Of that figure, 37 deaths were primarily attributable to heroin and 26 primarily to fentanyl, according to an analysis of case files conducted for the Office of the Attorney General by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. In all of 2014, 208 people died of overdoses, 57 primarily attributable to heroin and 43 primarily attributable to fentanyl.

"These numbers are terribly distressing," said Attorney General Janet T. Mills. "The first six months of 2015 show that this crisis continues unabated and we - everyone in the state of Maine - still have a great deal of work to do to get this under control. We need to address this crisis from all angles: education, prevention, treatment and interdiction."

Two caveats underscore these statistics: Based on experience in past years, the actual total for a year can vary about 15% up or down from twice the amount of the half-year mark. Also, most toxicology reports reveal that the decedent's blood contained numerous substances - cocaine, alcohol, fentanyl, heroin and other opioids or over-the-counter medications. One death can be caused by multiple substances.

"It cannot be stressed enough - You do not take heroin, it takes you," said Attorney General Mills.

If you or someone you know needs help getting treatment, dial: 211

HOW to Properly Display your American Flag.

HOW TO FLY YOUR AMERICAN FLAG
									Flag Display The American flag should always fly: Above other flags and should be the same size or larger than the other flags. On its own right. When flying with other country flags all flags should be the same size and fly at the same height. With its canton (star field) in the upper left corner when looking at it. If the flag is horizontal you will see one side of the flag, and if it's displayed vertical, you will see the other side.   How to properly fly your flag at half-staff.  When raising the flag to half-staff on a vertical pole, always raise it briskly to the top of the flagpole for a moment before lowering it. When taking it down for the night, raise it to the top of the flagpole again & lower it to the bottom. With a telescoping flag pole it is acceptable to put the USA flag on the second set of rings instead of the top set. In this case the top set would be left empty.  When the United States flag is flown at half-staff, State & other flags should be removed or flown at half-staff too.  More about half-staff Only the President and state Governors can decide when and how long the flag should be flown at half-staff on federal or state buildings. These are guidelines published in US Flag Code. Thirty days after the death of a president or former president Ten days after the death of a vice president, the chief of justice or a retired chief of justice or the speaker of the house of representatives. Until the burial of an associate justice of the Supreme Court, secretary of a military department, a former vice president, or the governor of a state, territory, or possession. On the day of and the day after the death of a member of Congress. On Memorial Day, the day set aside to honor all the people who have died while serving the United States & originally called Decoration Day, the flag is flown at half-Staff until noon, then raised to full staff until sundown. What if you can't lower your flag? For flags that can't be lowered, such as those on many homes, the American Legion says that attaching a black ribbon or streamer to the top of the flag is an acceptable alternative. The ribbon should be the same width as a stripe on the flag and the same length as the flag.