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Patients Shift from Fentanyl to Meth in Portland Clinic

4/19/2025

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Summary

Story summary

At Spurwink, a mental health clinic in Portland, Maine, the alarming disappearance of patients recovering from opioid addiction has sparked fears of fentanyl relapse. Yet, those who return show troubling signs of methamphetamine use instead. This shift highlights a disturbing trend, as meth, a cheap and powerful stimulant, increasingly takes the place of fentanyl in the community.

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Story summary

At Spurwink, a mental health clinic in Portland, Maine, the alarming disappearance of patients recovering from opioid addiction has sparked fears of fentanyl relapse. Yet, those who return show troubling signs of methamphetamine use instead. This shift highlights a disturbing trend, as meth, a cheap and powerful stimulant, increasingly takes the place of fentanyl in the community.