Statistics compiled by Sorg cited in media reports on Maine overdose deaths
Marcella Sorg, an anthropologist and research professor with the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine, was mentioned in the Bangor Daily News article, “‘One person a day is dying’ in Maine, drug overdose numbers surpass 2015.” With 286 drug overdose deaths in Maine as of September, the state has already exceeded last year’s record-setting drug-related death total of 272, Attorney General Janet Mills announced in a press release. “One person a day is dying from a drug overdose in Maine,” Mills said. “I cannot stress how dangerous these drugs are.” Heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine or clandestine lab-made fentanyl have been linked to 195 or 68 percent of the drug-related deaths in the first nine months of 2016, according to a preliminary analysis compiled by Sorg, who analyzes overdose deaths for the state’s attorney general, the BDN reported. The press release states the increase is mainly due to illegally manufactured fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, but the number of deaths due to other drugs also is increasing, the Associated Press reported. Maine Public and Boston.com carried the AP report. Portland Press Herald, The Forecaster, WVII (Channel 7) and WLBZ (Channel 2) also reported on the statistics.