There are currently three bills before the Maine Legislature on the topic of Substance Abuse Education. Two of the bills were sponsored by Sen. Brad Farrin, R-Somerset.
One of the bills, LD 2089, outlined new initiatives to increase education and prevention efforts across the state. It would provide 10 hours of instruction for grades 6-12 on the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs, as well as establish the third week in October as “Drug Poisoning Awareness Week.”
His other bill, LD 363, seeks a study to bring together best practices across the state in the treatment and recovery of those suffering from substance use disorder.
A third bill discussed during the briefing was LD 986, which sought to increase penalties for those trafficking in fentanyl – a synthetic opioid many in law enforcement call a poison more than a drug. That bill died last year in non-concurrence between the chambers.
It’s not too early to be thinking about resolutions! Should the Grange support any of these bills or substance abuse education in general?