Matthew Braun, center, in recovery for a number of years and leader of the Youth in Recovery chapter in Biddeford, makes a point during a panel discussion on Maine’s opioid epidemic Thursday at the University of New England. To his left is William Paterson, co-chair of the Maine Opiate collaborative. To his right is Jim Godbout of the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club. TAMMY WELLS/Journal TribuneBIDDEFORD — During a panel discussion Thursday on Maine’s opioid epidemic, Saco Police Chief Brad Paul made an observation.

“I’d like to turn meetings to action steps,” he said. “I’m anxious to turn words and thoughts into concrete steps.”

Others in the room for the annual meeting of the Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition at the University of New England nodded in agreement.

Communities finding themselves in the grip of the heroin and opioid epidemic have been meeting for months – some for the last couple of years – to educate themselves about the crisis and to find ways to make an impact.

Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant pointed out that the city started its own coalition two years ago, and it has since expanded to include neighboring municipalities.

“Every time we peeled back a layer, there was another,” he said, speaking to the multiple facets to the problem. “What struck me was the complexity of the issues. There is so much to be done.”

Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Kennebunk “can do so much more (together) than in isolation,” he said.

Saco City Administrator Kevin Sutherland said he’s hopeful legislation passed during the latest session in Augusta will provide more treatment in the local area.

“How do we move folks from the back of a police car to treatment?” he asked.

Earlier this month, the Maine Opiate Collaborative released a report outlining recommendations for treatment, prevention and law enforcement. The collaborative held 20 public forums across Maine starting in October, gathered information and brainstormed their suggestions. Some, they noted, have already been implemented.

One that is expected to soon make its debut in York County is the training of recovery coaches, said Deborah Erickson-Irons of the York Public Health Council and York Hospital. Coaches help people just starting in their recovery from addiction. The county’s hospitals are also working on prescription writing practices, she said.

In Biddeford, Police Chief Roger Beaupre said his department will implement a training program for officers on how to interact with young people in crisis.

And a member of the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club, Jim Godbout, pointed to the club’s mentoring program designed to engage young people and keep them away from drugs.

“Forty-three people in my life have died from addiction,” Godbout said. The first of them, his best friend, died when they were 17 years old. High on marijuana, he “played chicken” with a car on the Maine Turnpike and crashed, Godbout said.

“We have to change how young people think about (drug) use and misuse,” he said .

Matthew Braun, who has been in recovery for some time and recently started a chapter of Youth in Recovery in Biddeford, said he was a teenager when he became involved with drugs.

Braun spoke of mental health issues, a dysfunctional family and what he described as his “deep-seated feelings of worthless,” which led him into drug use.

The 60-page report of the Maine Opiate Collaborative makes a number of recommendations. The report notes that the next tasks are to establish a working plan and steps to implement it, and that some steps will be difficult and time consuming, and will require funding to achieve.

“No matter how difficult the task, we must work as allies to stop the supply chain of drugs following into Maine, educate all Mainers about the dangers of opiate and prescription drug abuse, and provide appropriate substance abuse treatment,” the report states. “Heroin and opiate abuse is not the only drug problem in the state of Maine, but it is the most critical at this time.”

Among the recommendations for prevention and harm reduction are to determine the root cause; invest in early childhood education and home visits; reduce bias and stigma; approach marijuana policy with caution; expand access to Narcan; provide needle exchanges; and support people in recovery.

Treatment recommendations include expanding the numbers of medicationassisted therapies; increasing local options for treatment, including detox, residential rehab, intensive outpatient therapies and more; reducing logistical barriers to treatment through community transportation programs; providing more health insurance options; and providing more treatment beds for women.

Law enforcement recommendations include developing drug programs, expanding drug courts; more funding for law enforcement to follow drug cases and root out dealers; more treatment options for those in jail; providing mental health and substance abuse professionals in police departments; and more.

Godbout pointed out Thursday that solutions will take money, and a total commitment from legislators and local leaders to fund programs.

“This group does a lot of talking,” he said. “We have to do a lot of doing.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 ortwells@journaltribune.com.