THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO IS MAKING SOME HEADWAY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST OPIOID ADDICTION. DOCTOR MICHAEL LANDEN WITH THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THERE HAS BEEN A NEARLY 12 PERCENT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 2017.
HE SAYS IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN SEEN IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL. THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS GETTING HIGH DOSE OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS RELATED TO DRUG-RELATED DEATHS HAVE DECREASED BY 17 PERCENT OVER THE LAST YEAR.
LANDEN ALSO SAYS PATIENTS GETTING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE FROM FOUR OR MORE PRACTITIONERS IS DOWN 28 PERCENT OVER THE SAME TIME PERIOD.
