Event

Union Knox County Recovery Coalition Community Conversation

The Knox County Recovery Coalition is responding to the current opiate addiction epidemic which is truly a public health crisis of epic proportions in our community with almost 30% of babies born in Knox County being born drug affected, the child foster care system being overwhelmed trying to place children due to addiction problems with their parents and a death every month in Knox County of a young adult or teen due to a drug overdose. More than 10% of local teenagers and young adults are currently addicted to opiates in Knox County and most can't find help for their addiction. This is getting worse every year with an increase in overdose deaths in Maine by 31% from 2014 to 2015.

This has a significant impact on everyone in our community. Regardless of how much this is a visible issue for many, the problem is here, is only getting worse by the day and needs strong action now.

In order for the coalition to be successful in its mission to prevent more people from becoming addicted, help those already affected and to heal family and friends from the widespread effects of addiction, the whole community must pull together. We will be holding 5 community forums in the next month (Camden, Rockland, St. George, Cushing and Union) to keep broadening the coalition. In future months, more community forums will be held to engage communities and to get involved in actions to prevent further addiction and to help those in recovery.

I hope that you will attend and to become an active participant. Thank you.

Ira Mandel, MD, MPH

A healthy community is more powerful than any drug. The Knox County Recovery Coalition helps the people of Knox County avoid drug addiction by improving the health of our communities. Please join us @ http://www.knoxrecovery.org.