Committee unanimously supports Bellows bill to improve addiction recovery services in Maine

On Thursday, the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee unanimously voted for a bill from Sen. Shenna Bellows, D-Manchester, to improve addiction recovery services and outcomes in Maine.

“Quality, supportive recovery residences are an important part of the effort to keep people on the path to recovery. While many are doing this important and hard work well, there are unscrupulous individuals out there who may take advantage of someone’s trust in a difficult situation,” said Sen. Bellows. “When families are helping a loved one find resources so they can recover from their addiction, they need a support system they know they can trust. Creating a voluntary certification program for recovery residences is a smart step in the right direction, and I’m glad the committee members voted to move this bill forward.”

Drug overdose deaths in Maine have averaged approximately one person per day since 2014. While the rate declined in 2018, it remains at historic levels.

The bill, LD 1523 “An Act To Ensure the Quality of and Increase Access to Recovery Residences,” directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a voluntary certification process for addiction recovery residences. This recommendation was adopted unanimously by the bipartisan Opioid Task Force because recovery residences are such an important tool in the path to recovery.

The bill also directs the Maine State Housing Authority to create a pilot project to provide a short-term rental subsidy to certified recovery residences that provide medication-assisted treatment. This would help make sure that recovery residences are not cost-prohibitive for low-income Mainers.

LD 1523 now faces votes in the Maine Senate and House.