WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Society of Addiction Medicine honored U.S. Senator Susan Collins with an award for her advocacy and commitment to increasing access to addiction treatment.
Dr. Mark Publicker, the president of the New England Society of Addiction Medicine, presented Senator Collins with the award. Dr. Publicker is an addiction medicine specialist at the Mercy Hospital Recovery Center in Westbrook, Maine, who has practiced addiction medicine for more than 30 years. Following the award presentation, Senator Collins and Dr. Publicker met with Dr. James Berry of Gorham and other New England doctors in her Washington, D.C., office.
“For more than 60 years, the American Society of Addiction Medicine has brought together leading health care professionals who are dedicated to increasing access to care and improving the quality of treatment for those struggling with substance abuse,” said Senator Collins. “I am honored to receive this recognition for my work to expand access to addiction treatment. Working together, we can ensure individuals receive the help they need and replace addiction with hope, recovery, and healing.”
As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has continuously urged Congress to increase funding for addiction treatment services. She recently announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $816 million – a $665 million increase over the past two years – for the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) opioid abuse treatment and prevention programs. The bill directs $500 million to State opioid crisis grants, which were authorized through the 21st Century Cures Act, a bill that was championed by Senator Collins and signed into law in December 2016.
