Maine Seeks Foster Families to Care for Children Whose Parents are Addicted to Opioids

Maine health officials are looking for more foster families to care for children whose parents are addicted to opioids, Maine Public Broadcasting reports.

There are dozens of children who have been placed in state custody because their parents are unable to care for them because of opioid addiction. The state needs 66 new foster families.

“Clearly the heroin and opiate crisis is impacting more and more children each year,” Maine Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew said. “Substance abuse not only destroys the human spirit, it destroys the fabric of our families. Here in Maine more than 60 percent of children coming into protective custody are there due to parental substance abuse as a risk factor.”