MaineHealth

The project activities are designed to bring SUD/OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery activities to the targeted rural service area, with an added emphasis on addressing the needs of the county’s incarcerated, unhoused or homeless, veterans, and public housing populations. The characteristics of the target service area include high rural poverty and social isolation, almost non-existent public transportation, high rates of chronic illness, and high rates of opioid overdose and related deaths. Access to primary care and SUD/OUD services is challenging, and due to limited broadband access in the region, accessing services via telehealth is also difficult. The service area has a high number of elderly, veterans, incarcerated individuals, and individuals living in public housing or who are unhoused/homeless. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted every component of health care delivery in the target service area and exacerbated every barrier to care.