Addiction Treatment Center to Close in Maine

A second nonprofit outpatient drug treatment facility in Maine says it's closing due to a lack of governmental support.

Officials with Spectrum Health Systems in Sanford say the facility will close once its 100 patients are transferred to other treatment facilities.

The announcement comes as overdose deaths in the state are rising and more Mainers are seeking treatment for heroin and prescription painkiller addiction.

The number of Mainers seeking treatment for heroin addiction increased from more than 1,100 in 2010 to over 3,000 last year.

A company spokesman says "constant cuts" to Medicaid and tighter limits on who is eligible for coverage made it impossible for Spectrum to provide a sustainable model for treatment. He said 95 percent of clinic patients rely on state Medicaid to pay for their treatment. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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