About Project DHARMA
Project DHARMA is a collaboration between MaineHealth and community organizations dedicated to overdose and infection prevention in rural Maine. Overdose and infection prevention involves a set of evidence-based strategies that reduce the risk of overdose and the infectious complications of substance use. These efforts:
- Are built on a longstanding history of advocacy, started by people who use drugs
- Acknowledge that people who use drugs should be treated with dignity, respect and compassion
To learn more about overdose and infection prevention, watch this video featuring community partners in Maine. The video is ideally viewed by a group with a brief follow up discussion but can also be viewed on your own. Discussion/reflection questions to consider are:
- What is your initial reaction to the video?
- What are some ideas specific to your role or workspace for improved incorporation of overdose and infection prevention strategies into the care of people who use drugs?
- What is one thing you think you can try to do differently now?
How can we help?
Local syringe services program staff offer critical resources such as:
- Infection Prevention Supplies
- Naloxone: For rapid opioid overdose reversal
- Test Strips: For detecting xylazine and fentanyl
- Vaccinations: For certain communicable diseases like viral hepatitis A and B
- HIV and Viral Hepatitis Testing: Point of care services
- Linkage to Care: For HIV prevention through pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
Project DHARMA works with the following Maine community partners to provide resources to those in need:
Project DHARMA collaborates with local community partners to enhance overdose and infection prevention services in Maine’s rural counties and to support individuals at risk for communicable diseases. Project DHARMA helps connect individuals with infectious disease prevention and treatment services as well as substance use disorder services.
Goals include:
- Expanding the capacity of community organizations to provide overdose prevention, including drug checking services and infection prevention supplies
- Expanding the capacity of community organizations to screen for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C
- Promoting awareness of HIV prevention medications, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
- Integrating peer support workers to improve coordination necessary for obtaining HIV, viral hepatitis, infection prevention supplies and substance use services
- Expanding the capacity of community organizations to provide overdose and infection prevention training
Community Partners
Frannie Peabody Center, Nasson Health Care, Greater Portland Health, Preble Street, Health Reach
Academic Partners
Colby College, Brandeis University, University of New England, Brown University, University of North Carolina, University of Notre Dame, Preble Street Learning Collaborative
Other Treatment Partners
MaineHealth Adult Specialty Care - Gilman Street, MaineHealth Wound Care, MaineHealth Infectious Diseases, Northern Light Infectious Diseases, MaineHealth Behavioral Health
State Partners
Maine CDC, Maine Office of Behavioral Health
With federal funding, we purchase fentanyl and xylazine test strips for distribution to clients accessing overdose and infection prevention services from Project DHARMA community partners.
With technical assistance from our academic partners, Project DHARMA community partners have received training on using Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR). FTIR provides on-site drug checking to identify any potential unsafe contaminants in the drug supply.
Through various partnerships, we use spectrometry-based confirmatory drug checking to help identify fentanyl levels and other contaminants present in drugs circulating in Maine communities.
Looking for more drug checking program updates?
Please refer to Project DHARMA community partner websites and/or Streetcheck for drug-checking updates and information.
Media Coverage
The Maine Monitor: More funding for harm reduction programs in Washington County (1/6/24)
Mainebiz: MaineHealth gets $1.2M grant for statewide overdose prevention (6/30/22)
Lewiston Sun Journal: Federally funded harm reduction program will expand lifesaving services in rural communities (7/1/22)
Project DHARMA Trainings/Recordings
2/7/24: Treatment, Prevention, Wound Care: Non-stigmatizing approaches for people who use drugs
MaineHealth Awarded $1.2M for Overdose Prevention
MaineHealth secures a $1.2M federal grant to boost statewide overdose prevention.
Contact Us
Have questions about Project DHARMA or need assistance? Reach out to our team for more information and support.
Project DHARMA has been made possible thanks to a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), funding from Maine’s Office of Behavioral Health/OD2A, and most recently, the Maine Recovery Council/opioid settlement funds.
This project is dedicated to community partner colleagues Jessi Gilbert (Maine Access Points) and Kari Morissette (CSI), whose vision for the grant application services helped make Project DHARMA's work a reality.