About the OPTIONS Initiative

The Overdose Prevention Through Intensive Outreach Naloxone and Safety (OPTIONS) initiative is a coordinated effort of the Maine Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) and other state agencies to improve the health of Mainers with substance use disorder. OPTIONS supports treatment, harm reduction and recovery, and aims to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal drug related overdoses.

OPTIONS Liaisons

The OPTIONS co-responder initiative embeds licensed behavioral health clinicians within local emergency medical services (EMS) and law enforcement agencies in every county across Maine. Learn more about the OPTIONS liaison program.

OPTIONS Public Health Campaign

Through interviews with over 53 state and community leaders, the OPTIONS public health campaign strives to reflect and amplify the voices of Mainers affected by the opioid epidemic. In doing so, the campaign aims to:

1. Improve the understanding of the Good Samaritan Law and increase calls to 9-1-1 for medical assistance in the event of an overdose emergency.
2. Invigorate the Have It On Hand campaign to increase the distribution and availability of life saving Naloxone across the state.
3. Educate those at-risk on safer drug use practices that reduce the risk of both fatal and non-fatal overdose.
4. Connect people affected by the opioid epidemic with local prevention, harm reduction, recovery, treatment, and general support resources.

For more information on the campaign, contact katherine.coutu@maine.gov.