About 16,000 Mainers are affected by the stricter mandate, and some medical professionals worry they will turn to heroin.
Joe Lawlor
Staff Writer
Joe Lawlor writes about health and human services for the Press Herald. A 24-year newspaper veteran, Lawlor has worked in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia before relocating to Maine in 2013 to join the Press Herald. He is still considered “from away” but since then, he has learned what a “dooryard” is, eaten “whoopie pies” drank Moxie and boiled some “lobstahs.” The stories he enjoys most are when he learns something and meeting inspiring people.
He lives in South Portland - aka “SoPo” - with his wife, Melanie, and two school-age children.
Health groups oppose Maine CDC push for more control of disease data
Letting the agency withhold locations of outbreaks endangers the public and contradicts its mission, critics say in public comments on a proposed rule change.
Maine groups work on opioid fix: More access to Suboxone
They’re trying to persuade additional doctors to prescribe the pill that reduces cravings and often turns lives around, but there are numerous obstacles.
Maine CDC wants to limit what you can know about disease outbreaks
A year after the Portland Press Herald sued to get the names of schools with multiple chicken pox cases, the agency looks for more authority to deny records requests.
Portland social worker practiced for months after complaint of sexual relations with client
Kelly F. O’Rourke was arrested July 1, six months after the complaint was filed, and he still had his license Monday.
Bowdoin grad, social activist back in spotlight after arrest
DeRay Mckesson, a former educator, is one of the most recognizable faces to emerge from the Black Lives Matter movement.
Iraqi immigrants in Portland honor those killed in Baghdad suicide attack
About 100 attend a vigil on the steps of the First Parish Church.
Anti-LGBT group organizing referendum effort
The campaign by Equal Rights Not Special Rights would remove sexual orientation as a protected status in the Maine Human Rights Act.
Bath-Brunswick addiction program seen as possible model
The Addiction Resource Center may be responsible for the low overdose death rate in the midcoast area, thanks to its emphasis on efficiency and timely delivery of services.
Young Mainers show most dislike for Affordable Care Act in new poll
The poll also reveals that residents are evenly divided in their opinions of the health care law, but more are in favor than the national average.