Maine Drug Deaths Reach New High

Maine officials say the number of drug-related deaths reached a new high last year and that the increase was fueled in part by heroin overdoses.

An analysis released Friday by the Maine attorney general's office found that 208 people died in 2014 from drug overdoses in Maine. That's a jump of 18 percent from the previous year.

The analysis concluded heroin deaths played a big role, increasing from 34 in 2013 to 57 in 2014.

Attorney General Janet Mills says the age of those who died ranged from 18 to 88. She says the tragedies point to a need for a three-pronged approach of education, interdiction and treatment.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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