Dear Editor:

Most readers are aware of the drug overdose and addiction problem in Maine, and specifically in our county. Deaths from prescription painkillers and heroin use have increased four-fold in the past 14 years, and arrests for heroin trafficking and sales are higher in the Midcoast than anywhere else in Maine. There is an urgent need to address the problem in our own backyard.

Enter State Senator Chris Johnson and Bobby Whear. Bobby wondered if we could start a drug addiction recovery program similar to the nationally recognized Gloucester (Massachusetts) Police Department’s program and Scarborough’s Project HOPE. Both are based on the premise that law enforcement alone is not an adequate way to deal with this issue. If an addict willingly comes forward and wants to enter treatment, every effort is made to place them in a treatment program, rather than under arrest and in jail. Chris has become a strong advocate for combining law enforcement with support for treatment and addiction recovery.

As a first step, Chris convened meetings with people who work with all levels of the problem, including municipal police chiefs, Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, LincolnHealth, Mid Coast Hospital's Addiction Resource Center and CLC YMCA. Together, they created the Lincoln County Recovery Collaborative to develop and manage an outreach and treatment program for drug addiction. From a cost perspective, implementation of this program will decrease crime and lower the costs of incarceration. But on a deeper level, our community will benefit immensely from this demonstration of compassion and belief that society can be bettered through collective action. 

Chris has played a key role in creating this Collaborative, demonstrating his leadership ability and proving he can take the initiative and bring a diverse group together to solve problems. This is not about Democrats vs. Republicans. This has little to do with Augusta and a lot to do with Lincoln County. Chris cares about people, their problems, and their concerns. This is why I am backing Chris Johnson for re-election this November.

Rudi Graf

Newcastle