Portland is getting $4 million to fight overdoses within the city.

The money comes from the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

“Portland Public Health is partnering with the Substance Use Research and Evaluation Program at the University of Southern Maine’s Cutler Institute for the implementation of this grant,” according to a news release from the city. “The Cutler Institute supports communities and partner organizations by helping translate knowledge and best practices into sustainable solutions that address society’s changing needs and focus on improving outcomes.”

Earlier this year, Portland police reported a surge in drug overdoses. In the first three months of 2023, there were 96 overdoses, 11 of which were fatal. 

There were more than 10,000 drug overdoses in Maine in 2022, according to a report from the Maine Attorney General’s office, including 716 suspected or confirmed deaths.

The number of overdose deaths in Maine have jumped dramatically over the last two decades. According to data from the University of Maine, in 1997 there were just 34 deaths. By 2020, that number had risen to 504.