NEW MEXICO IS STARTING TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO PRESCRIPTION OPIOID DEATHS. FOR YEARS, NEW MEXICO HAS HAD ONE OF THE HIGHEST OVERDOSE DEATH RATES IN THE NATION…BUT THOSE NUMBERS HAVE GONE DOWN NOW FOR THREE YEARS IN A ROW.
THERE WERE 153 DEATHS IN 2016…70 FEWER THAN JUST TWO YEARS EARLIER. STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE CREDITING SEVERAL FACTORS, INCLUDING A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS BEING WRITTEN…AND A GREATER AVAILABILITY OF DRUGS THAT CAN REVERSE OVERDOSES.
