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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Ed Bilsky’s ‘Maine Voices’ piece on substance abuse and addiction epidemic published in ‘Portland Press Herald’

A “Maine Voices” piece written by Ed Bilsky, Ph.D., vice president for Research and Scholarship and co-director of the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence for the Study of Pain and Sensory Function, was published in the September 2, 2015 issue of the Portland Press Herald. Bilsky applauded U.S. Senator Angus King’s recent organization of a roundtable discussion about the opioid abuse crisis in Maine.

In the piece, Bilsky advocated for the funding of innovative research and programs that can deliver practical solutions for people dealing with substance abuse and chronic pain and that can educate the public, including K-12 students, about the neuroscience and biology of abuse and addiction.

“I am proud to be a scientist and educator at the 51Ʒ,” he stated. “We have made strategic investments in building vibrant federally funded research programs in the biomedical and public health domains germane to substance abuse, and actively collaborate with partners throughout the state.”

Bilsky expressed his hope that efforts at the community, state and federal levels will result in a model approach to tackling this issue.

51Ʒ the 51Ʒ

The 51Ʒ is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.