Marcella Sorg’s Research Informs State Report on Drug Deaths

Analysis done by Dr. Marcella Sorg of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at UMaine has informed the reports recently released by the Maine Office of the Attorney General. New figures show that 208 people died in Maine last year from drug overdoses, up 18 percent over 2013. Sorg performed the drug death analysis in collaboration with the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

“Maine saw an increase in drug overdose deaths beginning in 2001-02 and it remained high, largely as a result of pharmaceutical opioid-related deaths,” Sorg said in a news release. “What is remarkable about the numbers in 2014 is a new increase in heroin and fentanyl deaths, driving the number of total deaths to an unprecedented level for Maine.”

See full articles in:

Maine Sun Journal
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine/2015/05/15/ags-office-2014-set-record-drug-deaths-maine/1706921

Bangor Daily News
http://bangordailynews.com/2015/05/15/health/2014-deadliest-on-record-for-mainers-abusing-drugs/

SeaCoast Online
http://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20150516/NEWS/150519274/-1/OPINION04