THERE WAS A BIG JUMP IN DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS IN NEW MEXICO LAST YEAR. THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS 536 PEOPLE DIED, A 20-PERCENT INCREASE FROM 2013.
THE DEPARTMENT’S DR. MICHAEL LANDEN SAYS THAT SHOWS NEW MEXICO NEEDS TO REDOUBLE ITS EFFORTS TO MAKE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DRUGS LESS AVAILABLE. HE SAYS THERE NEEDS TO BE LESS PRESCRIBING OF DANGEROUS OPIOIDS IN NEW MEXICO.
DR. LANDEN SAYS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO MAKE THE DRUG NALOXONE MORE AVAILABLE STATEWIDE. HE SAYS IT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN 900 OVERDOSE REVERSALS LAST YEAR.
