SUPPORT for ME Needs Assessment Summary.

Maine Department of Health and Human Services contracted with the Catherine Cutler Institute at the University of Southern Maine to conduct a baseline needs assessment. The overall goal was to better understand the current capacity to address substance use in Maine; find barriers to receiving and utilizing SUD treatment and recovery services; and identify any gaps in SUD-related services in the state. The Cutler team conducted interviews, surveys, community listening sessions and focus groups with healthcare key informants (leadership from health systems, residential care, recovery housing, behavioral health agencies), providers (medical, behavioral health, first responders, residential treatment, law enforcement, opioid treatment), youth ages 12-21, and community members across Maine. The team also analyzed health claims data to identify how common substance misuse is among MaineCare (Medicaid) members and what types of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and support services MaineCare members use. For more information, please contact the principal investigator, M. Lindsey Smith, PhD, at m.lindsey.smith@maine.ed