Maine breaks record for overdose deaths in 2022
716 Mainers died last year, 80 more than in 2021
716 Mainers died last year, 80 more than in 2021
716 Mainers died last year, 80 more than in 2021
Maine broke its own record for overdose deaths in 2022, according to a report released Thursday by the Maine Attorney General's Office.
The report said 716 people died from drug overdoses, 80 more than in 2021.
Overall, 10,110 overdoses occurred in 2022. The report calculated the survival rate at 93 percent.
Men accounted for nearly three-quarters of the deaths, the report said and nearly 80 percent of overdose deaths were linked to fentanyl.
The report also found that of the 716 people who died from a confirmed or suspected overdose, 268 had a history of a prior overdose. "Although most cases had bystanders or witnesses present at the scene, by the time first responders arrived, the details about who was present at the time of the overdose were frequently unclear," the report said.
The report also found that family and friends or bystanders administered the antidote naloxone for just 82 or 11 percent of the fatal overdoses in 2022. The use of naloxone in 2002 represented an increase over the previous two years of 4 percent in 2020 and 9 percent in 2021, the report said.
In the 577 deadly overdose situations where emergency medical personnel were involved, the report found that in more than half of the cases, the person was already dead when paramedics arrived.
Responding to the report, Gov. Janet Mills promised that her Administration "will not rest until we reduce (the number of overdoses) to zero." Mills said officials "will continue to work with advocates, the recovery community, and lawmakers to tackle this epidemic, to prevent addiction, to help more people access treatment and recovery, and to save lives."