Sun, 06/27/2021 - 6:00pm AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Partnership to End Addiction launched a free texting service that alerts Maine residents to any sudden increase in overdoses in their counties and connects them with resources that can save lives, support those struggling with substance use, and promote recovery. Residents — including parents, caregivers, medical professionals, first responders, community groups and those struggling with substance use — in all Maine counties can sign up for the Partnership’s SPIKE Auto Text Program. Individuals can sign up by texting SPIKE to (855) 963-5669 (855-9-OD-KNOW) and following the prompts. The program will link them to resources through Maine’s OPTIONS initiative, which is placing mobile response teams in each Maine county to engage communities with high rates of drug overdoses to promote harm reduction strategies, connect people directly to recovery services and treatment, and distribute naloxone, the lifesaving overdose medication. The text messaging system can help to prevent overdose deaths by directing individuals to the Know Your OPTIONS website, where they can learn how to get a naloxone kit or contact the OPTIONS liaison in their county.