Media report on 2015 state drug death analysis conducted by Sorg
Several news organizations including the Associated Press, Bangor Daily News, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, Portland Press Herald, WLBZ (Channel 2) and WAGM (Channel 8 in Presque Isle) reported on a 2015 Maine drug death analysis conducted by Marcella Sorg, a research professor of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine. The study, which was conducted for the state medical examiner’s office, found Maine saw a 31 percent increase in drug overdose deaths last year as addiction to heroin, fentanyl and other opioids continued to take a toll on the state, the AP reported. All told, 272 people died from overdoses in 2015, setting another record following 208 overdose deaths the year before, according to the AP. Most of the overdose deaths, 157, were blamed on heroin and nonpharmaceutical fentanyl, while 111 were caused by prescription opioids, however there’s often an overlap of drugs, Sorg told the AP. 2015 marked the first time overdoses caused by street drugs — heroin and fentanyl — surpassed those linked to prescription opioids, she said, adding research indicates addiction to pharmaceutical opioids eventually pushes users to street drugs. “The thing that has changed is the availability of heroin and fentanyl,” Sorg said. The Charlotte Observer, Boston.com and The Washington Times carried the AP report. Sun Journal published the BDN article.