Northern Light Health receives $1M federal grant to combat opioid crisis

BREWER — Northern Light Health has received a $1 million federal grant to support community efforts toward establishing or enhancing opioid use prevention, treatment and recovery services in rural communities served by the healthcare system.

Northern Light Health, in collaboration with Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield, Northern Light Acadia Hospital and a consortium of community partners, will work together to reduce the burden of substance use disorder/opioid use disorder (SUD/OUD) in the Sebasticook Valley region which includes the communities of Detroit, Dexter, Hartland, Newport, Palmyra, Pittsfield and St. Albans.

“People in rural communities suffering with opioid use disorder face increased challenges accessing services during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a $1 million federal grant will go a long way in eliminating barriers to services that exist due to geographic limitations,” explained Terri Vieira, MHA, FACHE, president, Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital.

During this three-year grant-funded project, our work will be focused on five goals:

1. Improve regional coordination and communication for SUD/OUD response
2. Increase community awareness of substance use prevention and overdose response
3. Improve clinical workflow and data availability for screening and treatment referral of SUD/OUD
4. Improve access to comprehensive SUD/OUD treatment services
5. Improve regional community and clinical supports for treatment and recovery.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health and Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded $89 million to 89 rural organizations across 38 states as part of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Implementation (RCORP-Implementation).