Maine Town Sees Rise in Youth Overdoses Despite Decrease in Substance Abuse: A Possible Solution Emerge. In a concerning trend, Fort Kent, Maine, has witnessed a disturbing increase in youth overdoses despite a decline in overall substance abuse among young people. The town's schools are grappling with the issue, particularly in light of the stories of students like Michael Robertson, who struggled with addiction and truancy in his teenage years. As the community searches for answers, one school is pioneering a unique approach that may offer a glimmer of hope in addressing the root causes of substance abuse and preventing overdoses among its students.
FORT KENT, Maine — Michael Robertson struggled in school almost from the very beginning. But it was in seventh grade, when he started smoking cigarettes and drinking, that school seemed to become nearly unbearable to him. “There was always an excuse for why he couldn’t go to school,” said his mother, Danielle Forino. “Every morning, […] The post Youth drug use is down, but overdoses have risen. One town’s schools have a possible solution appeared first on The Hechinger Report.