"Washington county has never faced a problem as devastating as its current wave of OxyContin addiction," said Senators Snowe and Collins in a joint statement. "This grant is going to help address the critical need to establish a program to treat those who have become addicted to OxyContin and other opiates, and to prevent others from falling prey to the same addictions."
Both Senators Snowe and Collins wrote to DHHS in active support of the grant application by The Regional Medical Center. In addition, Senator Collins, a member of the Health and Human Services Committee brought the specific problems of opiate addiction in Washington County to the government's attention during a February 12th hearing on opiate abuse. During that hearing, Senator Collins specifically addressed the grant application by The Regional Medical Center.
The grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration totals $149,975 and will be used to implement a detailed plan for a comprehensive opiate addiction program for Washington County. The plan includes treatment centers in both Machias and Calais, including intensive outpatient treatment, outpatient programs in more rural areas, outreach and coordination with Passamaquoddy treatment services, methadone and other replacement therapies, family counseling, and rehabilitation services.