NEW MEXICO IS ONE OF ONLY TWO STATES THAT ARE TOPS IN THE NATION FOR COMBATING PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE. WE SHARE THE RATING WITH VERMONT. DR. MICHAEL LANDEN WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TELLS 770 KKOB IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE HAD VERY HIGH OVERDOSE RATES SINCE 1992, SO HAVE DEVISED PROGRAMS TO FIGHT THE PROBLEM … MOSTLY HEROIN OVERDOSES. HE SAYS ONE IS THE GOOD SAMARITAN LAW THAT PROVIDES ANYONE WHO HELPS A PERSON WHO'S OVERDOSED ON DRUGS IMMUNITY FROM CHARGES.
LANDEN SAYS THE STATE SHIFTED ITS FOCUS IN 2007 WHEN PRESCRIPTION DRUG OVERDOSES WERE MORE COMMON. NEW MEXICO HAS A PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAM AS WELL AS I-D REQUIREMENTS FOR DISPENSING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.
THE HIGHEST OVERDOSE RATE IN THE STATE BETWEEN 2010 AND 2012 OCCURRED IN RIO ARRIBA COUNTY.
