In her remarks announcing Smith, Governor Mills also announced that within the next two weeks she would issue an Executive Order directing state agencies to begin taking meaningful steps towards combatting the epidemic. The Cabinet will be tasked with ensuring coordination and communication across state agencies on actions regarding law enforcement, prevention, treatment and recovery to combat the opioid epidemic.
Governor Mills and Smith announced that their first action will be to establish the Prevention and Recovery Cabinet, which will include commissioners from various departments, as well as the Attorney General.
They are athletes and businesspeople, fishermen, cooks and clerks. They are people without labels, citizens without stereotype. They are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, schoolmates, graduates of high schools, CTEs, universities and colleges,” added Governor Mills. In 2017, 418 Mainers died from drug overdose- more than one per day - and 908 children who were born in Maine were affected by drugs. In the past five years, at least 1,630 people in Maine have died from drug overdose - more than the population of Chesterville, Eastport or North Berwick. “I am incredibly thankful to Governor Mills for the opportunity to lead such meaningful work and I look forward to working with her cabinet and community members across the state to get it done.” “While the opioid epidemic will not be eradicated by any single approach, with a spirited effort and better coordination among Maine’s state government agencies, we can save lives and improve the health of our state,” said Gordon Smith. I have complete confidence in his ability to work across departments and knock down the silos that prevent us from working to combat this crisis and protect Maine families.” “Gordon Smith is an experienced, well-respected, and highly qualified public health expert. It is time to mobilize state government to stem the tide of this deadly epidemic,” said Governor Mills. “History will note that we have lost an entire generation of people to the opioid epidemic and that we have simply failed to address this preventable disease. The position, which will be housed within the Office of Innovation and the Future, will marshal the collective power of state government to combat the opioid epidemic.
Governor Mills and Smith Announce Prevention and Recovery CabinetĪugusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today that she has appointed Gordon Smith, Executive Vice President of the Maine Medical Association, to serve as the Director of Opioid Response in her administration.
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