OPTIONS Partner Toolkit

Because every person’s life is worth it: Call 9-1-1 for any possible overdose. Maine’s Good Samaritan Law protects people experiencing an overdose, and those providing aid, from arrest or prosecution for violations including most non-violent crimes and all drug crimes. Learn the details at: KnowYourOptions.ME. #OPTIONSME #GoodSamaritanLawME

Because every person’s life is worth it: Call 9-1-1 for any possible overdose. Maine’s Good Samaritan Law protects people experiencing an overdose, or providing aid, from arrest or prosecution. Get details at: knowyouroptions.me/good-samaritan-law/ #OPTIONSME

If someone you are with is experiencing an overdose, use naloxone AND call 9-1-1. Maine has a law in place to ensure that people who seek help in the event of an overdose are legally protected. Learn more about Maine’s Good Samaritan Law at: KnowYourOptions.ME. #OPTIONSME #GoodSamaritanLawME

If someone you are with is experiencing an overdose, use naloxone AND call 9-1-1. Maine’s Good Samaritan Law ensures that people who seek help in the event of an overdose are legally protected. Learn more at: knowyouroptions.me/good-samaritan-law/ #OPTIONSME

Accidental overdose can happen to anyone taking an opioid, but it doesn’t need to be fatal. Have naloxone on hand to save a life. Learn more and find free naloxone near you at: KnowYourOptions.ME. #OPTIONSME #NaloxoneSavesLives #HaveItOnHand

Accidental overdose can happen to anyone taking an opioid, but it doesn’t need to be fatal. Have naloxone on hand to save a life. Learn more about naloxone and find it for free near you at: knowyouroptions.me/get-naloxone/ #OPTIONSME #NaloxoneSavesLives #HaveItOnHand

Have naloxone on hand. It is simple to use and it will not hurt anyone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose. Naloxone is available without a prescription at Maine pharmacies, and is also distributed by many organizations for free. Find information and free naloxone near you at: KnowYourOptions.ME. #OPTIONSME #NaloxoneSavesLives #HaveItOnHand

Have naloxone on hand. It is simple to use and it will not hurt anyone who is experiencing an opioid overdose. Find free naloxone near you at: knowyouroptions.me/get-naloxone/ #OPTIONSME #NaloxoneSavesLives #HaveItOnHand

There are resources available for substance use disorder, and not all are a good fit for every person. Your local OPTIONS Liaison can help navigate and find what will work for you or your loved one. Connect with them today at: KnowYourOptions.ME/Options-Liaisons or call 2-1-1. #OPTIONSME

There are resources available for substance use disorder, and not all are a good fit for every person. Your local OPTIONS Liaison can help navigate and find what will work for you or your loved one. Connect with them today at: knowyouroptions.me/options-liaisons/ or call 2-1-1. #OPTIONSME

Over time, substance use changes the way the brain works, making it difficult to stop. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use, support is available wherever you are. Search for resources in Maine at KnowYourOptions.ME/Resources #OPTIONSME

Over time, substance use changes the way the brain works, making it difficult to stop. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use, support is available wherever you are. Search for resources in Maine at: knowyouroptions.me/resources/ #OPTIONSME

Substance use disorder is a chronic condition that changes the way a person’s brain works, making it difficult to stop. It can happen to anyone. Stigma towards people who use substances can make people feel devalued, dehumanized, and isolated. Help fight stigma in Maine by visiting: KnowYourOptions.ME/Fight-Stigma/ #OPTIONSME

Substance use disorder can happen to anyone. Stigma can make people feel devalued, dehumanized, and isolated. Help fight stigma in Maine by visiting: knowyouroptions.me/fight-stigma/ #OPTIONSME

There are multiple pathways to recovery. It took nine different programs for Chantel to find the right one for her. You define what your path looks like. Hear stories of hope from real Mainers at: KnowYourOptions.ME/Stories #OPTIONSME

There are multiple pathways to recovery. It took nine different programs for Chantel to find the right one for her. You define what your path looks like. Hear stories of hope from real Mainers at: knowyouroptions.me/stories/ #OPTIONSME

• Every county in Maine has a dedicated OPTIONS Liaison who can offer support and connect you to resources for harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. Find your local OPTIONS Liaison or make a referral at KnowYourOptions.ME.
• OPTIONS Liaisons are behavioral health clinicians who work alongside local emergency medical services (EMS) and law enforcement agencies to provide support and help connect you to resources for harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. OPTIONS Liaisons can provide therapeutic interventions when appropriate, conduct proactive outreach, de-escalate behavioral health crises when possible, and follow up after overdoses occur to help with referrals. Get in touch with your OPTIONS Liaison, find local resources, and learn more at KnowYourOptions.ME.

There are many resources and services available in Maine related to substance use, depending on your or your loved ones’ needs. Visit KnowYourOptions.ME to:

• Connect with your local OPTIONS Liaison, who can help people who use drugs (PWUD) and loved ones navigate resources and services available.
• Browse our resource catalog by county to connect with local organizations.
• Find information on Maine’s Good Samaritan Law.
• Learn how to access free naloxone.
• Download and share educational materials.
• Learn how you can help reduce stigma in Maine.
• Learn more about topics related to substance use.

The OPTIONS communications campaign is working to reduce stigma, connect people to resources for harm reduction, treatment, and recovery, and reduce fatal overdoses in Maine by increasing the use of naloxone and calls to 9-1-1 for accidental overdoses. Visit the OPTIONS website to find information, resources, and materials for download, or to get in touch with your local OPTIONS Liaison who can help to navigate services. OPTIONS save lives, and every Mainer’s life is worth it.

If you believe someone is experiencing an overdose, administer naloxone, and call 9-1-1 immediately. Maine has one of the strongest Good Samaritan laws in the country in place to protect both the person who is experiencing an overdose, and those providing aid, from arrest and legal prosecution for most crimes, including drug crimes. Learn more about Maine’s Good Samaritan Law.

• Mainers across the state are impacted by substance use. Substance use disorder is a chronic condition, like diabetes, depression, or heart disease. It changes the way your brain works, making it very difficult to stop using substances. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use, support is available. Learn more at KnowYourOptions.ME.
• Stigma is a barrier to people staying safe and getting support. Stigma can be carried out in big and small ways through our words and actions, and it makes it harder to access effective tools and solutions like naloxone, medication-assisted treatment, and sterile supplies. Learn more about substance use stigma and how you can fight it.

• Harm reduction saves lives every day. Substance use disorder is a chronic condition that changes the way your brain works, making it very difficult to stop using substances. Every person’s path is unique, and every person’s life is worth it. Everyone deserves to stay safe and take care of themselves, whether they use substances or not. Learn more about safer substance use practices here.
• Syringe service programs (SSPs, also previously known as “needle exchanges”) increase the likelihood that people will enter treatment and stop using substances, along with reducing infections such as HIV and hepatitis C.
• In Maine in 2022, over 2,250 reported overdoses were reversed by community members with naloxone. Naloxone is an easy-to-use and life-saving medication that quickly reverses an opioid overdose to prevent unnecessary deaths. Every person’s life is worth it, and everyone should have naloxone on hand. Learn more and find naloxone here.

• Medication-assisted recovery is valid recovery. FDA-approved medications like methadone and buprenorphine reduce overdose deaths, reduce the use of illicit substances, and let people maintain stable and healthy lives in long-term recovery.
• Everyone’s recovery is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all path. Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) is a gold standard of treatment. As one option, MOUD is effective in helping many people stay stable and healthy in long-term recovery.