In New Mexico, the rate of drug overdose deaths is one of the highest in the country. In fact, this number has tripled since 1990, and drug overdose is now the number one cause of accidental death in the state.
In recent years, New Mexico has seen a dramatic increase in the number of overdose deaths due to prescription drugs—in particular, opioid painkillers, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. It’s not surprising that opioid painkillers are the cause of so many deaths in the state with the number of prescriptions filled every year. More than 1.5 million prescriptions for opioid painkillers are filled each year in New Mexico alone, making opioids the most prescribed drug in the state, followed by benzodiazepines, such as Valium and Xanax.
Another concerning issue in New Mexico is the prevalence of alcohol and drug use amongst the younger generations. In 2015, 20% of high school students reported drinking alcohol for the first time before they turned 13 years old and 9% of students reported having used cocaine at least once.
New Mexico has a growing heroin problem. Additional illicit drugs that plague the state include cocaine, crack, marijuana, alcohol, ecstasy, and methamphetamines. Abuse of prescription drugs includes morphine, Vicodin, Lortab, Xanax, Norco, Ambien, Oxycodone, Klonopin, Percocet, Valium, and codeine.
To combat the state's substance abuse rates, New Mexico has implemented the Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education initiative. The HOPE program was established by New Mexico's Health Sciences Center in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney's Office. The goal is to protect New Mexico communities through law enforcement, prevention, education, treatment, planning and re-entry back into society.
Other New Mexico agencies working to implement programs to prevent and decrease substance abuse in the state include:
Possessing, selling, manufacturing or trafficking drugs in New Mexico are considered serious offenses. Violators who commit these crimes face harsh penalties including jail time, fines or a combination of both.
Drugs in New Mexico are classified into five different categories – known as schedules – depending on the drug's perceived risk of addiction and its recognized use in a medical setting. Substances categorized in schedules I and II are considered to have the highest risks for addiction and the least amount of accepted medical use. In contrast, drugs listed in schedules III, IV and V decrease in risk for addiction, while increasing in medical value.
There are many substances categorized in each of the schedules, but here are some of the most well-known examples:
The length of jail time and maximum fines for drug possession in New Mexico vary substantially according to different circumstances. Certain drugs are treated separately from other scheduled substances. Those convicted of possession within a drug-free school zone face greater consequences.
Type of CDS | Maximum jail or prison time | Maximum fine |
---|---|---|
Schedules I, II, III or IV | 1 year | $1,000 |
Methamphetamine, PCP, GHB, 1-4 butanediol | 18 months | $5,000 |
Possession within a Drug-Free School Zone | ||
Schedules I, II, III or IV | 18 months | $5,000 |
Phencyclidine | 3 years | $5,000 |
In New Mexico, producing any type of drug with the intent to sell is considered a far more severe offense than possession alone. Penalties increase if the crime involved a certain type of drug or took place in a drug-free school zone.
Type of CDS | Type of offense | Maximum jail or prison time | Maximum fine |
---|---|---|---|
Schedules I, II, III, or IV | First-time offense | 3 years | $5,000 |
Subsequent offense | 9 years | $10,000 | |
Schedule V | First and subsequent offenses | 1 year | $500 |
Methamphetamine and narcotics | First offense | 9 years | $10,000 |
Subsequent offense | 18 years | $15,000 | |
Sale or Production within a Drug-Free School Zone | |||
Schedules I, II, III, or IV | First offense | 9 years | $10,000 |
Schedule V | Subsequent offense | 18 years | $15,000 |
Methamphetamine and narcotics | First or subsequent offense | 18 years | $15,000 |
Recreational marijuana is illegal in New Mexico. First offenders caught possessing less than one ounce must pay a $100 fine and spend up to 15 days in jail. However, after a person's second offense, that penalty increases to a one-year jail sentence and a $1,000 fine.
Despite its strict recreational marijuana penalties, New Mexico has fully operational medical marijuana laws. Enacted in 2007, the use of medical marijuana is permitted to treat the following medical conditions:
Patients with a medical marijuana prescription can obtain up to six ounces from a state-licensed dispensary. Cultivation of up to 16 plants (four mature, 12 immature) is also allowed.
With more than 100 substance abuse treatment centers to choose from in New Mexico, you may be wondering how you pick the right one for you. There are many factors to consider, including:
Before you make a decision, do your research. Talk to the treatment center staff, read facility reviews, and make sure you’ll have everything you need to ensure a healthy and safe recovery. If you’re feeling too overwhelmed to conduct the search on your own, treatment support specialists are available any time of day at here to guide you through the process.
There are many factors involved in choosing the right rehabilitation program. Depending on the level of treatment needed, an individual may require inpatient residential care. Due diligence is key in determining whether or not the facility will meet all needs. Here are a few considerations:
With the rates of alcohol and substance abuse so high in the New Mexico area, there are a number of options available to individuals seeking assistance. Common programs/services include:
Addiction treatment programs are provided in New Mexico as a continuum of care offering a wide level of support. Detox programs are designed to address any physical dependency or withdrawal symptoms the person in recovery experiences. Professional addiction treatment helps patients to recover physically, mentally and emotionally from substance abuse.
The right addiction treatment program for a person will depend on the nature and severity of their addiction as well as how they respond to treatment. New Mexico drug rehabilitation programs provide clinical assessments and tailor their programs based on a person's particular needs.
A friend or family member might want to arrange an intervention for their loved one who does not realize the danger that substance abuse poses to their physical and mental health and overall well-being.
New Mexico interventionists can assist in arranging a meeting with the person to request that they enter into a treatment program. Professionally led interventions have high success rates in getting people to commit to seeking treatment.
For many people, drug and alcohol detoxification is the initial step they take toward recovery from addiction. During detox, the addictive substances are withheld. Depending on the nature of the addiction, withdrawal symptoms will begin.
Medical care and 24-hour support may be required to safely make it through detox. Certain substances, like opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol can cause severe withdrawal symptoms that can become life-threatening. That's why a person experiencing physical dependence on a substance shouldn't attempt to detox on their own.
Inpatient drug rehab programs provide medication, therapy, and support in an immersive and sober environment. The person in recovery lives onsite during residential addiction treatment, which provides them with 24-hour access to medical care and distances them from triggers that can lead to relapse.
New Mexico outpatient drug rehab programs provide less-intensive care than inpatient addiction treatment programs. Outpatient addiction treatment is used as a step-down level of care for people in recovery who have finished their inpatient program but who would benefit from further structure and support in their recovery efforts.
People in recovery in outpatient drug rehab programs participate in therapy sessions and group activities each day and return to their homes or to a sober-living facility at night.
Aftercare programs and alumni services may be available after addiction treatment programs have been completed. These services offer a continued connection to the recovery community and help them sustain long-term sobriety.
Addiction treatment centers may offer specialized programs to support patients' unique needs. These may include dual-diagnosis care, gender-specific therapy groups or medication-assisted treatment.
Mental-health issues frequently co-occur with substance use disorders. Effective treatment for co-occurring disorders integrates therapy to simultaneous treat both conditions.
Treatment programs may be divided by gender, which can encourage participation and offer therapy for gender-related addiction problems. Men may benefit from programs that will help them to address social pressures and insecurities. Women might seek out gender-specific programs if there was a history of abuse or violence in the home.
FDA-approved medications might be offered to decrease the odds of relapse. Buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone and naltrexone (Vivitrol) can be used to assist in recovery from opioid addiction. Medications to treat alcohol abuse include disulfiram (Antabuse) and acamprosate (Campral).
High-quality addiction treatment programs offer a wide range of therapies to fully address each person's well-being.
These might include:
Behavioral therapies are one of the most successful modalities used to treat addictions. Behavioral therapies help clients address destructive thought patterns and harmful behaviors to learn healthier ways of thinking and behaving. Common behavioral therapies used in New Mexico include motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy.
Complementary therapies might be offered in New Mexico as part of a holistic treatment plan, complementing traditional therapies with activities that address whole-person wellness. Complementary therapies may include acupuncture, yoga, journaling, and equine therapy.
Group counseling and support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous provide a community setting where those in recovery can share struggles and success stories and know they aren't alone.
Addiction is regarded as a family disease: what affects one member affects the whole family. Family therapy might be offered to help family members heal from the effects of the addiction, learn how to identify and end enabling behaviors and contribute to a more stable home environment.
Developing any missing life skills helps to establish a fulfilling life in recovery. Education support, employment assistance, and improved communication skills can all benefit long-term recovery.
Nutrition education and exercise are often provided to help those in recovery heal physically as well as mentally. Understanding the importance of a healthy diet and exercise can strengthen recovery and help to prevent relapses.
Stress-management tools give the person in recovery the skills needed to successfully handle stressful situations where they previously might have turned to drink or drugs for relief. Stress-management techniques can include meditation, yoga and breathing exercises.
Most New Mexico drug and alcohol rehab programs offer several payment options:
Addiction treatment is a covered behavioral health service under most major health insurance plans. Out-of-pocket costs and copays will vary based on providers and treatment programs.
Health insurance providers offering coverage in New Mexico may include:
Addiction treatment program lengths vary depending on a person's particular needs. Drug and alcohol detox can take a few days to a few weeks, depending on the substance and severity of the addiction. Many inpatient addiction treatment programs in New Mexico can last 30, 60 or 90 days but may last longer depending on how quickly the person progresses through treatment. Outpatient addiction treatment programs last similar lengths, and many alumni programs encourage long-term participation that could last indefinitely.
As you determine the expense of rehab in new-mexico, look at the expense as an investment in your future. Most rehabilitation facilities are able to take partial payment through any PPO, HMO or private insurance plan you have. If you wish to discuss your eligibility and the price of treatment in NM, dial our number, at no cost to get direct and truthful answers to your questions.
Whether your NM inpatient-residential alcohol, prescription and street drug rehab with take ninety days or ninety days, calling to get started improves your chances of becoming and keeping healthy. Determining a treatment program that can meet your expectations before you ever arrive at the center can also help considerably. When you're ready to book treatment, our phone line advisors can help you get properly placed so you feel comfortable.
The price of addiction treatment can seem daunting at first but every program has a different price and there are many ways to finance your recovery. It's important to remember that nothing is more important than your sobriety, health, and happiness. There are many elements that affect the price of treatment. These include:
If you do have insurance, make sure to call your insurance company before looking for treatment facilities, so that you have a better idea of what will be covered. New Mexico programs accept both private insurance and federal military insurance.
If you don't have insurance, there are other methods of meeting the costs of treatment. NM rehabs also accept cash and often offer sliding scale options as well. Sliding scale fees, when offered, can reduce the cost of rehab according to your income level.
Paying for rehab can be a barrier to getting treatment. With prices ranging anywhere from $4,000 for detox to $58,000 for a 90-day program, some may feel discouraged by what they see as an insurmountable sum of money needed to cover the costs of treatment.
However, what you may not realize is that there are avenues you can take to offset the financial burden of getting the help you need. Depending on your individual circumstance, you may be eligible for:
Don’t forget to ask the addiction center whether they accept health insurance, either private or Medicaid/Medicare.
NOTE: If you’re experiencing a life-threatening emergency, don’t wait; call 911.
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