DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONG TEENS IN NEW MEXICO

New Mexico Teen Drug and Alcohol Abuse Facts

Rio Arriba’s death rates due to drug overdoses and alcohol abuse, were among the highest in the state. Department data shows that from 2007 through 2009, the period during which the statistics were compiled, 133 people in the County died from alcohol abuse, 65 from drug overdoses.

The unintentional drug overdose rate in Rio Arriba far surpasses the rate of any other county in New Mexico, and the death rate from alcohol-related factors is in the top three, the Department data shows.

County Health and Human Services Department Director Lauren Reichelt said services addressing mental health — a factor commonly linked to addiction and suicide — are practically non-existent in the County.

The County’s health status is more stark when compared with statistics from neighboring counties such as Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Sandoval, which display positive results in many health statistics. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a philanthropic organization devoted to public health, compiled various statistics on each county in New Mexico and released them in 2010, ranking Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Sandoval Counties first, second and third, respectively, for overall county health.

Rio Arriba County ranked 32nd out of 32 counties, as Harding County was not ranked.

On average, local youth begin using marijuana at ten years of age and then within four to six months they move on to other illegal substances. Children as young as 12 are brought in to the emergency room in New Mexico for treatment for illicit drug overdoses.

The prices for illegal substances are very affordable, and sales are accessible. For example, heavily-cut doses of cocaine cost little more than five bucks, but the poor product quality results in short highs and intensified desires for more and more dosages.

One nurse in New Mexico said the majority of teens report the following pattern of drug abuse: marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, crack and methamphetamine, in that order, were the most popular drugs reported by teens that ended up at the emergency room.

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Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

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