PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — New statistics show the opioid epidemic is continuing in Maine, where there's nearly one death every day from a drug overdose.

The report compiled by Dr. Marcella Sorg of the University of Maine's Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center indicates that 180 people died from drug overdoses in the first half of the year, compared to 185 last year.

Attorney General Janet Mills said the toll could be much higher.

Going back to 2016, Mills said the overdose antidote drug naxolone has saved 530 lives in Maine.

All told, 84 percent of deaths involved some sort of opioid in the first half of the year. Last year, 418 Mainers died from drug overdose, an 11 percent increase compared to 2016.

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