CAMPUS CIRCULATION
The Pulse of the COM COMmunity
OPIOID RESPONSE IN MAINE
Opioids is a familiar topic to physicians and medical students alike. Last fall, DEA Agent Jon DeLena spoke about the continuing epidemic in the state of Maine and rise of poly-substance use. Alumnus and COM faculty member, Stuart Damon, DO, was invited to present his lecture, “Health Policy Brief: The Role of the Physician in the Opioid Crisis” at the American Osteopathic College of Occupational & Preventive Medicine's (AOCOPM) Annual Meeting. On the student end, second-year COM student, Brett Armstrong, won third place at the fall Student Research & Scholarship Forum for his research poster, "Rural/Urban Disparities in Opioid Use-Associated Infective Endocarditis." Student Doctor Armstrong participated in two other related events, an IPEC Poster Session on his involvement in the Mercy Pain Center, and a talk given by Gordon Smith Esq, Maine’s director of opioid response. According to Mr. Smith, “The governor and I both believe that the response, to what many people consider the public health crisis of our time, has been completely inadequate,” he explained. “The only effective thing the state has done is limit opioid prescribing for pain. We’ve done that quite effectively, but in terms of prevention, treatment and harm reduction, we’ve had a very weak response.”1
Reference:
1. Maine’s director of opioid response brings governor’s message of hope and recovery to UNE. 2 Oct 2019.
Left: Gordon Smith, Esq. during his “Responding to Maine’s Opioid/Addiction Crisis” talk at UNE COM; Right: DEA Agent Jon DeLena and Stuart Damon, DO '03