Statistical Data on Drugs in Maine
Maine faces a persistent and escalating drug crisis that has reached alarming proportions over the past decade. The state records 371 overdose deaths annually, representing a death rate of 29.9 per 100,000 residents—a staggering 44.44% higher than the national average. The crisis has evolved dramatically from prescription opioids to synthetic substances, with fentanyl now dominating the landscape and accounting for 61% of confirmed overdose deaths in 2025. This comprehensive analysis presents the current state of drug and substance abuse in Maine based on official data from state health departments, emergency medical services, treatment facilities, and public health monitoring systems.
Overdose Deaths and Mortality
Overall Death Statistics
- Total overdose deaths per year: 371 deaths
- Percentage of all deaths from overdose: 2.52%
- Death rate: 29.9 deaths per 100,000 residents
- Comparison to national average: 44.44% higher than national average
- Maine’s share of nationwide overdose deaths: 0.53%
- Annual growth rate: 2.73% increase over last 3 years
Maine’s overdose death rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating a severe public health crisis that requires continued intervention and resource allocation.
Opioid-Specific Deaths (2023)
- Opioid overdose deaths: 514 deaths
- Opioid death rate: 39.3 per 100,000 residents
- Percentage above national rate: 63.8% higher
- Opioid involvement in all overdoses: 86.0%
- Synthetic opioid involvement: 95.1% of opioid deaths
- Heroin involvement: 2.5% of opioid deaths
- Prescription opioid involvement: 12.3% of opioid deaths
Synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, dominate Maine’s overdose deaths, reflecting the shift from prescription opioids and heroin to more dangerous synthetic substances.
Fatal Overdose Demographics (2025 Year-to-Date)
Gender distribution: 66% male, 34% female
Age distribution:
- Under 18: 0%
- 18-24: 3%
- 25-34: 12%
- 35-44: 30%
- 45-54: 26%
- 55-64: 19%
- Over 64: 10%
Middle-aged adults (35-54) bear the highest burden of fatal overdoses, representing 56% of all deaths despite being only 24% of the population.
Drug Involvement in Fatal Cases (2025)
- Fentanyl or analogs: 61% of confirmed deaths
- Cocaine: 46% of confirmed deaths
- Methamphetamine: 38% of confirmed deaths
- Pharmaceutical opioids: 19% of confirmed deaths
- Heroin: 4% of confirmed deaths
- Fentanyl with cocaine: 29% of cases
- Fentanyl with methamphetamine: 26% of cases
- Fentanyl with xylazine: 12% of cases
Polysubstance use involving fentanyl is increasingly common, complicating treatment and harm reduction efforts.
Non-Fatal Overdoses and Emergency Response
2025 Overdose Response Summary (January-July)
- Total overdose incidents: 4,524
- Fatal overdoses: 227 (5.0%)
- Non-fatal overdoses: 4,297
- 15.0% decrease from 2024 same period (5,054 incidents)
Response Type Distribution (2025)
- Emergency department visits: 32.0%
- EMS responses (not transported): 12.0%
- Community naloxone reversals: 2.9%
- Law enforcement responses: 5.0%
The decrease in non-fatal overdoses may indicate improved prevention efforts, though it requires continued monitoring to confirm this trend.
County Distribution of Non-Fatal Overdoses (2025)
| County | Population % | Overdose % | Rate Comparison |
| Cumberland | 22% | 27% | Above average |
| Penobscot | 11% | 13% | Above average |
| Androscoggin | 8% | 11% | Above average |
| York | 16% | 11% | Below average |
| Kennebec | 9% | 9% | Average |
Cumberland County shows disproportionately high overdose rates relative to population, while York County shows lower rates despite its large population.
Geographic Distribution and Public Health Districts
Overdose Rates by District (per 10,000 residents)
- Highest rates: Penquis (13.9), Western (13.0), Aroostook (14.0)
- Lowest rates: Midcoast (5.9), Cumberland (2.4), York (3.4)
Substance-Exposed Infants by District (2020)
- Highest rates: Aroostook (14.0), Western (13.0)
- Lowest rates: Cumberland (2.4), York (3.4)
Rural districts (Aroostook, Western, Penquis) consistently show higher rates of both overdoses and substance-exposed births, indicating geographic disparities in the substance use crisis.
Youth Substance Use
High School Student Usage Rates (2019)
- Past-month marijuana use: 22%
- Lifetime prescription drug misuse: 12%
- Past-month prescription drug misuse: 5%
- Ever used inhalants: 7%
- Ever used cocaine: 4%
- Ever used heroin: 3%
- Ever used methamphetamine: 3%
Youth Demographics (12-17 years)
- Past-month illicit drug use: 10.41% (43.40% above national average)
- Past-month alcohol use: 8.24% (19.75% above national average)
- Marijuana use among drug users: 88.89%
- Past-year marijuana use: 14.39%
- Past-year cocaine use: 0.20%
- Past-year methamphetamine use: 0.17%
- Past-year pain reliever misuse: 1.87%
Maine youth show concerning rates of substance use well above national averages, particularly for illicit drugs and alcohol, indicating need for enhanced prevention programs.
Substance Use Disorders in Youth (12-17 years)
- Drug use disorder: 7.51%
- Alcohol use disorder: 3.50%
Nearly 1 in 13 Maine teenagers meets criteria for drug use disorder, representing a significant public health concern requiring targeted intervention.
Risk Perceptions Among Youth
- Perceive marijuana weekly use as risky: 33%
- Perceive prescription drug misuse as harmful: 88%
- Think heroin use once/twice is risky: 67% (ages 12-17)
- Believe parents disapprove of marijuana use: 80%
Youth show varying levels of risk perception, with lower perceived risk for marijuana compared to other substances, which may influence usage patterns.
Adult Substance Use Patterns (2022-2023)
Ages 18-25
- Past-month illicit drug use: 39.18%
- Past-year marijuana use: 49.83%
- Past-month marijuana use: 38.25%
- Past-year cocaine use: 5.38%
- Past-year heroin use: 0.55%
- Substance use disorder: 36.05%
Ages 26+
- Past-month illicit drug use: 24.54%
- Past-year marijuana use: 28.90%
- Past-month marijuana use: 22.48%
- Past-year cocaine use: 1.75%
- Past-year heroin use: 0.34%
- Substance use disorder: 19.47%
Young adults (18-25) show dramatically higher substance use rates than older adults, with over one-third meeting criteria for substance use disorders.
Treatment Needs vs. Access
- Population classified as needing treatment: 286,000 (23.47%)
- Population receiving treatment: 67,000 (5.47%)
- Treatment gap: 219,000 people (76.48% of those needing treatment)
A significant treatment gap exists, with three-quarters of those needing substance use treatment not receiving it, indicating major barriers to access.
Pregnancy and Substance Use
Maternal Substance Use (2019)
- Marijuana use during pregnancy: 10%
- Alcohol use during pregnancy: 10%
- Prescription pain reliever use: 4%
Substance-Exposed Infants
- 2020 notifications: 903 infants (8% of live births)
- Rate per 100,000 births: 54.7 diagnosed with neonatal Opioid Withdrawal syndrome (2020)
Substance use during pregnancy affects approximately 1 in 12 births in Maine, creating long-term health and social consequences requiring comprehensive maternal and infant support services.
Treatment Statistics and Capacity
Treatment Facilities and Capacity
- Active treatment facilities: 220 facilities
- Annual patients treated: 14,550 patients
- Outpatient services: 14,325 patients annually
- Residential services: 185 patients annually
- Hospital-based treatment: 40 patients annually
- Free treatment facilities: 1 facility
Maine’s treatment infrastructure shows heavy reliance on outpatient services (98.4% of patients), suggesting need for expanded residential treatment options.
Treatment Admissions by Primary Substance (2018)
- Alcohol: 39% of admissions
- Heroin/morphine: 31% of admissions
- Other opiates/synthetics: 15% of admissions
- Cocaine/crack: 5% of admissions
- Marijuana: 5% of admissions
- Methamphetamine: 2% of admissions
Combined opioid-related admissions (heroin and synthetic opiates) account for 46% of treatment entries, highlighting the dominance of opioid use disorders.
Treatment Costs
- Average outpatient cost per individual: $1,709
- Average residential cost per individual: $56,108
- National ranking for residential costs: 10th cheapest state
- Public spending on outpatient services: $24.49 million (1.06% of US total)
- Public spending on residential services: $10.38 million (0.2% of US total)
Maine offers relatively affordable treatment options, particularly residential care, which may improve access for individuals with substance use disorders.
Prevention and Harm Reduction
Naloxone Distribution and Use
- Naloxone doses distributed (since 2019): 493,000+ doses
- Overdoses reversed: 9,840 potentially fatal overdoses
- Distribution increase (2020-2022): Over 100%
- EMS naloxone administrations (2020): 1,340 incidents
- At-scene naloxone use in fatal cases: 26%
Naloxone distribution has significantly expanded and demonstrates measurable impact in preventing deaths, though its use in ultimately fatal cases shows the need for continued improvement in emergency response.
Healthcare System Impact
Emergency Department Visits (2020)
- Alcohol-related visits: 19,602
- Marijuana-related visits: 5,636 (21% increase from 2019)
- Opioid overdose visits: 1,473
- Gender pattern: Males more likely for all substances
- Peak age group: 36-54 years for alcohol, 26-35 for opioids
Emergency departments bear significant burden from substance-related visits, with alcohol generating the highest volume but opioid cases requiring more intensive interventions.
EMS Response Patterns (2020)
- Alcohol responses: 2,471 (42% of substance-related calls)
- Other drug responses: 1,897 (32%)
- Opioid responses: 1,557 (26%)
- Male predominance: 2:1 ratio for alcohol and opioids
EMS systems respond to substantial numbers of substance-related emergencies, with alcohol generating the most calls but opioid responses requiring specialized naloxone administration protocols.
Criminal Justice Impact
Drug-Related Arrests (2019)
- Total drug possession arrests: 2,575
- Adult arrests: 2,341
- Juvenile arrests: 234
Arrest categories:
- Other dangerous non-narcotics: 36%
- Marijuana: 35%
- Synthetic narcotics: 16%
- Opium/cocaine derivatives: 13%
Despite marijuana legalization trends, it still accounts for over one-third of drug possession arrests, while “other dangerous non-narcotics” (including methamphetamine and benzodiazepines) represent the largest arrest category.
Drug Trafficking Investigations (2020)
- Heroin investigations: 151 cases
- Cocaine investigations: 134 cases
- Other opiate investigations: 121 cases
- Methamphetamine sale investigations: 20% increase from 2019
- Methamphetamine manufacturing investigations: 60% decrease from 2019
While heroin trafficking investigations have declined since 2016, methamphetamine sales investigations are increasing, indicating a shift in drug markets.
Economic Impact
Productivity Losses (2020)
- Annual lost productivity from morbidity: $271 million
- Lifetime lost productivity from mortality: $734 million
- Market activity losses: $145 million annually
- Non-market activity losses: $126 million annually
- Per capita impact: $5,099 (6th highest in nation, 2017 estimate)
Substance use disorders impose enormous economic costs on Maine, equivalent to approximately $5,100 per resident, reflecting lost wages, productivity, and societal contributions.
Statistical Data on Alcohol in Maine
Maine presents a concerning alcohol landscape, with the state recording above-national-average death rates of 16.7 per 100,000 residents while maintaining relatively low underage drinking fatalities at just 1.7% of total alcohol deaths. Despite showing declining youth alcohol use over the past decade, Maine faces significant challenges with adult binge drinking rates of 19.5% and substantial economic costs exceeding $1.2 billion annually. The data reveals troubling patterns among young adults aged 18-25 who demonstrate the highest risk behaviors combined with the lowest risk perception, along with increasing rates of alcohol-related emergency services, chronic liver disease, and persistent public health impacts across all demographic groups.
Death Statistics and Health Impact
Alcohol-Related Deaths
- Total annual deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use: 714
- Deaths per capita: 1 death for every 1,908 people aged 18 and older (6.65 deaths per 10,000 adults)
- Under-21 deaths: 1.7% of total alcohol deaths (1.68%)
- Male deaths: 68.5% of excessive alcohol use deaths
- Deaths from chronic causes: 61.5% (such as Alcohol Use Disorder)
- Adults aged 35+: 88.0% of all alcohol-related deaths
Maine shows one of the nation’s lowest rates of under-21 alcohol deaths, but the overall death rate of 16.7 per 100,000 residents exceeds the national average of 13.1.
Five-Year Death Breakdown (2015-2019)
- Male over 21: 204 deaths
- Female over 21: 72 deaths
- Male under 21: 9 deaths
- Female under 21: 2 deaths
- Suicides due to alcohol: 61 (average)
- Deaths from Alcohol Dependence Syndrome: 43 (average)
- Coronary Heart disease deaths due to alcohol: 46 (average)
Chronic Conditions
- Alcoholic cirrhosis deaths increased from 10.3 per 100,000 (2019) to 11.9 per 100,000 (2020)
- Male cirrhosis deaths: 20.2 per 100,000 (2020)
- Female cirrhosis deaths: 8.5 per 100,000 (2020)
- Years of potential life lost annually: 16,952
Maine shows one of the nation’s lowest rates of under-21 alcohol deaths, but the overall death rate of 16.7 per 100,000 residents exceeds the national average of 13.1. The data reveals a stark gender disparity, with males accounting for over two-thirds of alcohol-related deaths and more than twice the rate of cirrhosis deaths compared to females. The increasing trend in liver disease deaths and substantial years of life lost highlight the growing chronic health impact of excessive alcohol use.
Youth and Young Adult Statistics
High School Students (Ages 12-17)
- Past month alcohol use: 8.24% (7,000 students)
- Past month binge drinking: 3.62%
- 2019 high school data: 23% used alcohol in past month
- Of those who drank: 33% reported binge drinking (8% of all students)
- Trend: Decreased from 32% (2009) to 23% (2019)
Youth alcohol use has declined significantly over the past decade, but those who do drink show concerning binge drinking patterns.
Ages 12-20 Statistics
- Past month alcohol use: 18.25% (25,000 people)
- Past month binge drinking: 9.92% (13,000 people)
- Alcohol Use Disorder: 6.88% (9,000 people)
- Maine vs. national: 22.4% (Maine) vs. 18.7% (US) for ages 12-20
Young Adults (18-25)
- Past month alcohol use: 57.18% (71,000 people)
- Past month binge drinking: 33.62% (42,000 people)
- 2017-2019 data: 38.7% binge drinking
- Alcohol Use Disorder: 19.63% (24,000 people)
- Ages 18-20 specific: 40% any alcohol use, 20% binge drinking
While youth alcohol use has declined significantly over the past decade, Maine still exceeds national averages for underage drinking. The transition from high school to young adulthood shows a dramatic increase in both alcohol use and problematic drinking patterns.
Adult Alcohol Use Patterns
General Adult Use (2022-2023)
- Past month alcohol use (18+): 56.42%
- Past month binge drinking (18+): 21.28%
- Adults who binge drink monthly: 19.5%
- Median drinks per binge: 5.4
- Most active drinkers (25%): 7.1 drinks per binge
- Monthly binge frequency: 1.8 times (median)
- Most active bingers: 4.1 times per month
Age-Specific Adult Patterns
- Ages 18-25: 57.18% past month use, 33.62% binge drinking
- Ages 26+: 56.32% past month use, 19.74% binge drinking
- Young adults (18-25) Alcohol Use Disorder: 19.63%
- Adults 26+ Alcohol Use Disorder: 11.24%
More than half of Maine adults consume alcohol monthly, with about one in five engaging in binge drinking, indicating widespread alcohol use across the adult population.
Alcohol Use Disorder
- Past year Alcohol Use Disorder (18+): 12.17%
- Total with Alcohol Use Disorder: 137,000 people
- Past year prevalence (2017-2019): 5.7% (66,000 people)
More than half of Maine adults consume alcohol monthly, with about one in five engaging in binge drinking patterns that significantly exceed moderate consumption guidelines. The high consumption levels among the most active drinkers suggest a subset of the population engaging in extremely risky drinking behaviors.
Accessibility and Perception Data
Youth Access and Attitudes
- High school students who think alcohol is easy to obtain: 61% (2019)
- Students whose parents would disapprove of regular drinking: 94%
- Students who think community adults disapprove: 73%
- Students who think binge drinking is harmful: 82%
- Perceived risk of being caught by parents: 50%
- Perceived risk of being caught by police: 18%
Parental Perceptions
- Parents who think teens could access alcohol at home: 38%
- Parents who think teens cannot access any substances: 52.8%
Retail Availability
- Liquor licenses per 10,000 residents: 25.9 (2020), down from 28.6 (2019)
- Total retail outlets with liquor licenses: 3,478
Despite declining accessibility perceptions among youth, a significant portion still views alcohol as easily obtainable, and parental awareness of home access remains concerning.
Risk Perception Across Age Groups
Perceived Risk from Binge Drinking
- High school students (moderate-to-great risk): 82%
- Ages 18-25 (think it’s not risky): 70%+
- Ages 26+ (some risk): 42%
- Ages 12+ overall (great risk perception): 39.23%
There’s a significant gap in risk perception, with young adults showing the lowest awareness of binge drinking dangers despite having the highest participation rates.
Public Health District Variations
Binge Drinking Rates by District (Ages 18-25)
| District | Rate |
| Penquis | 38% |
| Cumberland | 36% |
| York | 35% |
| Downeast | 34% |
| Midcoast | 32% |
| Western | 27% |
| Central | 25% |
| Aroostook | 23% |
Alcohol Use During Pregnancy (2016-2019)
- Statewide: 10% used alcohol in last trimester
- Cumberland: 18% (highest)
- Aroostook: 6% (lowest)
EMS Overdose Responses by District (2020)
| District | Rate per 10,000 |
| Western | 24.4 |
| Downeast | 10.5 (lowest) |
| Midcoast | 11.6 (lowest) |
Significant geographic disparities exist across Maine, with some districts showing binge drinking rates 65% higher than others. The variation in emergency responses indicates that alcohol-related acute health crises are not uniformly distributed, with Western Maine experiencing more than double the rate of some coastal areas.
Emergency Services and Healthcare Impact
Emergency Medical Services (2020)
- Total EMS responses for substance use: 2,471 (42% were alcohol-related)
- Rate: 18.4 EMS responses per 10,000 residents for alcohol overdose
- Males had twice as many alcohol responses as females
- Highest rate among ages 35-54
Emergency Department Visits (2020)
- Total alcohol-related ED visits: 19,592 (5% increase from 2019)
- Males had twice as many visits as females
- Highest rates among ages 36-54
Emergency services data shows alcohol remains a significant burden on Maine’s healthcare system, with middle-aged adults showing the highest utilization rates.
Criminal Justice Statistics
Operating Under Influence (OUI) Arrests by Age (2019)
- Under 18: 26 arrests
- Ages 18-20: 197 arrests
- Ages 21-29: 1,640 arrests (highest group)
- Ages 30-39: 1,443 arrests
- Ages 40-49: 920 arrests
- Ages 50-59: 765 arrests
- Ages 60+: 459 arrests
- Total adult OUI arrests: 5,424
Liquor Law Violations (2019)
- Under 18: 298 violations
- Ages 18-20: 733 violations
- Ages 21-29: 189 violations
- Total adult liquor violations: 1,278
Motor Vehicle Crashes (2020)
- Alcohol/drug-involved crashes: 1,265
- Highest rates among drivers ages 21-24
- Percentage of crashes involving alcohol/drugs increased from 4% to 5% (2019-2020)
Young adults in their twenties represent the highest risk group for alcohol-related criminal justice involvement, particularly for OUI offenses.
Economic Impact
Financial Costs
- 2010 taxpayer cost: $938.7 million
- 2022 adjusted cost: $1.267 billion
- Cost per drink: $2.13 (2022 dollars)
The economic burden of excessive alcohol use represents a substantial cost to Maine taxpayers, equivalent to over $2 per alcoholic drink consumed.
In general, Maine faces a severe crisis with overdose death rates 44% above the national average and fentanyl involvement in 61% of fatal cases. While youth alcohol and drug use have declined, young adults aged 18-25 show the highest risk behaviors, and three-quarters of those needing treatment cannot access it. The combined economic impact exceeds $1.5 billion annually in lost productivity and costs, while recent harm reduction efforts have shown promise with a 15% decrease in non-fatal overdoses and nearly 10,000 lives saved through naloxone distribution. Continued investment in treatment capacity, particularly residential services, and targeted interventions for high-risk age groups and rural communities remain essential to addressing this public health emergency.
Sources:
- Drug Abuse Statistics
- Maine Monthly Overdose Report for July 2025
- MAINE – National Survey on Drug Use and Health
- Governor Mills Announces 16 Percent Decline in Fatal Drug Overdoses in Maine in 2023, Among Nation’s Largest
- Drug-Related Morbidity and Mortality in Maine: Lost Productivity from 2015 to 2020
- Substance Use Trends in Maine
- Behavioral Health Barometer: Maine, Volume 6
- Alcohol Statistics in Maine
- SUBSTANCE USE IN MAINE – ALCOHOL