Joe Lawlor

Staff Writer

Joe Lawlor writes about health and human services for the Press Herald. A 24-year newspaper veteran, Lawlor has worked in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia before relocating to Maine in 2013 to join the Press Herald. He is still considered “from away” but since then, he has learned what a “dooryard” is, eaten “whoopie pies” drank Moxie and boiled some “lobstahs.” The stories he enjoys most are when he learns something and meeting inspiring people. He lives in South Portland - aka “SoPo” - with his wife, Melanie, and two school-age children.

Latest

Published
March 7, 2016

Drug overdose deaths surge by ‘shocking’ 31 percent in Maine

The state had a record 272 fatalities in 2015, continuing a steady climb since 2011 as heroin took a heavy toll in the streets and suburbs.
Published
March 6, 2016

Maine medical board criticized for procedures in Falmouth psychiatrist case

Medical ethics experts say the practice of considering a complaint against a doctor without reviewing that doctor’s history undermines patient safety.
Published
March 2, 2016

In battle against heroin, Maine seeks new rules for prescribing opioids

The LePage administration’s bill would require doctors to use a prescription monitoring program that’s now voluntary, and limit the supply of opiates for chronic pain to 15 days.
Published
March 2, 2016

Falmouth psychiatrist put on probation after patient’s suicide

The mother of a patient who committed suicide by overdose says the doctor, who had lost his medical license in other states, over-prescribed drugs and got away with it.
Published
February 28, 2016

Scarborough nonprofit helping to fund addiction treatment

Project Grace raises $11,000 to support the police department’s program, despite the stigma that often discourages fundraising for such efforts
Published
February 28, 2016

Operation Hope helping addicts, but treatment depends on the charity of out-of-state programs

Scarborough police have connected 109 addicts with treatment since Oct. 1, often by finding beds in states as far away as California
Published
February 26, 2016

Waynflete School proposing $12 million expansion in Portland’s West End

The private school plans to invest in a new gymnasium and an expanded and renovated Lower School for elementary grade students.
Published
February 25, 2016

Maine reports first case of Zika virus infection, in recent traveler to tropics

The Hancock County resident did not require hospitalization and is recovering at home, the state epidemiologist says.
Published
February 24, 2016

Susan Collins’ Senate committee on aging explores risks of opiate addiction

The special panel chaired by Collins focuses on high prescription rates for painkillers and federal survey questions that may encourage hospitals to dispense too many of them.
Published
February 23, 2016

New twists as Maine lawmakers again consider Medicaid expansion

The sixth and latest effort includes a tie to the heroin crisis and small coverage premiums for some, but many Republicans balk.