MaineHealth shares your concerns about how the opioid epidemic is affecting our communities. Here you will find information about opioid use disorder, resources for patients and families to stay safe and alternative ways to treat pain. If you have any questions about the use of opioids in your medical care, please do not hesitate to ask your health care provider.
Building Connections and Saving Lives
Watch Joanne Grant, director of substance use treatment program operations describe our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in this short video.
What are opioids?
Opioids are medicines that may be prescribed to treat medium-to-severe pain of any type. They lessen the feeling of pain, but do not treat the injury causing the pain. Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic (or constant) brain disease that some people can get from taking opioids often. This type of disease leads to craving opioids, not being able to stop using opioids, and can cause major life problems.
What is Integrated Medication-Assisted Treatment (IMAT)?
IMAT combines talk therapy (either individual or group counseling) with medicines that can control cravings and lessen withdrawal symptoms. The medicines help a person feel normal again so they can focus on therapy and help rebuild their life. This therapy can continue as long as medically needed. The medicines that are used are:
- Buprenorphine (pronounced byoo-pre-nor-feen), also called Suboxone
- Methadone (available only at a methadone clinic)
- Naltrexone (nal-trek-sohn)
The IMAT program helps patients get the care they need, close to home. Patients who need intensive services can get care by providers with special addiction training. More stable patients can get their IMAT treatment at primary care offices by doctors and behavioral health clinicians. If a patient’s condition worsens, they can switch back to intensive care for more help until they become healthier and ready to return to receiving care at a primary care office.
MaineHealth is here to help, regardless of your ability to pay.
- MaineHealth Coverage Team: MaineCare provides help for people who need treatment for substance use, including opioid addiction treatment. Many people in Maine are eligible for MaineCare, including adults without children. The MaineHealth Coverage Team will help you with the MaineCare application process, which can be confusing and stressful to do by yourself. We will also work with you to see if there are other assistance programs you may be eligible for. Contact us at 833-284-8816.
- MaineHealth CarePartners: Some assistance may be available through MaineHealth CarePartners - a partnership of MaineHealth, doctors, hospitals and other health care providers that helps people who don't qualify for public or private health care coverage programs. CarePartners coordinates health care services for low-income, uninsured residents in the following Maine counties:
Cumberland, Knox,
Lincoln,
Waldo, York. For more information, visit MaineHealth Care Partners.
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MaineHealth Free Care: MaineHealth provides free care to Maine residents living at 200% of the poverty level. Some New Hampshire residents may also qualify for this program. To learn more about how to access free opioid treatment services, contact a MaineHealth financial service representative today at 207-887-5100 or toll-free at 866-804-2499.
To speak with a MaineHealth financial service representative, call 207-887-5100 or 1-866-804-2499 (toll-free) Monday - Friday, from 8 am - 5pm.
