Senator Collins Secures $1 Million in Funding Bill to Increase Access to Residential Substance Use Treatment in Northern Maine

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that she secured $1,000,000 to expand access to residential substance use treatment in the draft Fiscal Year 2022 Health and Human Services Appropriations bill that has been released by the Senate Appropriations Committee.  The legislation must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House.

“Northern Maine is experiencing an influx of individuals looking for help battling substance use disorders, but bed-shortages and waitlists for care can be a significant roadblock to receiving treatment,” said Senator Collins.  “Expanding and upgrading AMHC’s residential treatment facility will allow more Mainers to receive treatment.  As the appropriations process moves forward, I will continue to champion this investment to help AMHC serve Mainers in need of substance abuse treatment.”

For nearly 50 years, AMHC, a nonprofit organization, has provided mental health and substance use services to more than 5,500 clients annually in Aroostook, Washington, and Hancock counties.  The agency has 26 service sites and employs 325 staff offering mental health, substance use, crisis, and sexual assault services. Pre-pandemic, AMHC’s Residential Treatment Facility in Limestone assisted up to 150 individuals per year. 

If enacted into law, AMHC will use this funding to upgrade and expand its residential treatment facility to meet the community’s increased demand for services.  As one of only two residential treatment facilities in Maine, AMHC’s ability to expand its bed capacity by a minimum of 25% and make the facility fully ADA-accessible will be an important step toward reducing the number of overdose deaths in Maine. 

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