Too many of us have seen a neighbor, a friend or family member struggling with substance use. The good news: There’s always hope for recovery.
You might suspect someone is struggling when you begin noticing red flags: withdrawing from family and friends, skipping school or work, facing financial issues, losing or gaining weight, neglecting personal hygiene, engaging in risky behaviors like driving under the influence, or suddenly showing symptoms of depression, anxiety or paranoia.
In Maine, 5,962 people overdosed through the end of August 2024, with more than 300 of those being fatal. That’s down from 6,844 who overdosed through the first eight months of 2023, continuing Maine’s decline—among the best results in the nation. Fentanyl, or fentanyl with a combination of other drugs, is most often to blame, according to the Maine Drug Data Hub.
The path to recovery isn’t usually a straight line, but the right resources and support can help people. Here’s some hope: Maine’s OPTIONS initiative says that 75% of people who report a history of addiction, problematic substance use, or substance use disorder are currently in recovery.
“We need to start thinking about substance use disorder the same way we think about any other healthcare service, like high blood pressure treatment,” said Dr. Lori Tishler, chief medical officer for Community Health Options. “If you told me you weren’t taking your blood pressure medication, I’d ask why, but I wouldn’t assume you were a bad person, unlike how we sometimes view someone who falls off the wagon with alcohol or opioid use disorders. We need to approach folks as they are—as people who have chronic illnesses that can be successfully treated.”
If you’re taking steps toward recovery from substance use, talking to your primary care physician would be a great place to start to find out what kind of treatment is the best for your needs. You can also talk with a member of the Care Management team at Community Health Options to get information and help find support for personalized recovery plans and treatment programs.
If you’re supporting someone in recovery, you can help end the stigma around these illnesses by simply changing the words you use, keeping in mind that people are not defined by the issues they face. Instead of calling someone an addict, an alcoholic, a user—or even thinking calling someone “clean” is a compliment—talk about having substance use disorder.
Here are some resources in Maine to help get you started:
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As winter approaches, kids have started bringing home coughs and sneezes from school and lots of folks are feeling a little off, maybe with a nagging tickle in their throats or an irritating cough. Could be the drier air as we start firing up our wood stoves. Or it could be a cold or some other virus, like the flu.
