Abstract
Maine is in the midst of an unprecedented overdose crisis, which has sparked debate about the appropriate policy response to increasing prevalence of substance use disorder in our communities. This article draws upon a statewide survey to better understand the policy attitudes of Maine voters toward drug policy reform, specifically restructured drug laws, strengthened pathways to recovery, and improved strategies for harm reduction and preventing overdose deaths. Our results suggest that political rhetoric and policy positions rooted in stigmatization and criminalization of those with substance use disorder are increasingly at odds with the perspectives of Maine citizens. Maine’s unique ideological landscape, voters’ rebuke of criminally focused policy approaches in 2022, and the severity with which Mainers have been affected by substance use can be the basis for a bold set of policy reforms.
First page
21
Last page
28
Rights and Access Note
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for non-commercial uses. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
DOI
https://doi.org/10.53558/WDUD6355
Recommended Citation
Glover, Robert W. , Karyn Sporer, and Aran Wollard. "Are Maine Voters Ready for Drug Policy Reform? Findings from a Statewide Survey." Maine Policy Review 32.1 (2023) : 21 -28, https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mpr/vol32/iss1/2.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
