RUTLAND, Vt.

Maine leads in treatment for addiction to painkillers

A new federal study says Maine tops the nation in treatment rates for painkiller addiction, followed by Vermont.

A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration looked at admission rates per capita for those seeking help kicking addictions to prescription opiates such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. Oxycodone is known by the brand name OxyContin.

Citing figures from the report, the Rutland, Vt., Herald says treatment for painkiller addictions has increased nationwide. But it says the highest rates of growth were in the New England states. The study analyzed treatment center admissions from 1998 to 2008.

FRYEBURG

Owner plans to go ahead with new furniture plant

The owner of an idle wood-products manufacturing plant in western Maine is vowing to go on with plans to open a new furniture-making plant despite losing the main manufacturing building to fire.

Louise Jonaitis said the fire at the former Saunders Brothers mill in Fryeburg interrupts her plans temporarily, but that she intends to use what’s left to make furniture and other wood products. Jonaitis bought the mill, which had closed in 2008, at auction last year for $200,000.

Fire investigators told the Sun Journal of Lewiston that they are still investigating the fire and might be ready to release their findings this week.

AUGUSTA

Winter fishing season arrives with new rules

Winter fishing season arrived New Year’s Day in Maine, and wildlife officials say people are now able to fish even when late ice formation or early ice-out leave the surface unsuitable for ice fishing.

Revised state regulations allow fishermen to cast their rods in open waters of lakes, ponds and streams during the winter months.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has produced an online magazine on its www.maine.gov/ifw/ website that describes the different winter fishing rules around the state.