Between 2021 and 2022, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) revealed that about 24% of adult New Mexico residents aged 18 or older reported substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year. Yet, only roughly 6% received treatment. Seeking addiction treatment can seem challenging, but there are plenty of free substance abuse resources in New Mexico to help you start your recovery journey. Read on to learn more about what New Mexico has to offer.
Drug Statistics in New Mexico
Addiction and the opioid epidemic greatly affect people across the nation, including New Mexico residents. The following statistics reveal trends in addiction and treatment in New Mexico:
Addiction Nonprofits in New Mexico
The Life Link
This organization provides several health and social services. Clients have access to SUD outpatient programs, mental health care, homeless support, and a statewide hotline to support victims of human trafficking. They also have a wellness center and shelter for women and children.
PB&J Family Services
This organization assists families with children aged 0 to 18. They offer multiple programs focused on family reunification, family intervention, and children’s emotional well-being. Families benefit from free resources, a family-infant-toddler program, home visits, and services for families with a child in the justice system.
National Alliance on Mental Illness New Mexico
This organization offers free mental health resources to New Mexican individuals and loved ones who have been affected by mental health conditions. They have educational information about mental health and substance abuse for adults, youth, families, Veterans, and frontline professionals. They also provide a peer-to-peer warmline where callers can receive free, confidential crisis counseling.
Harm Reduction Programs
NM Department of Health: Harm Reduction Services Finder
This government resource has an online harm reduction service locator. People looking for safer ways to use drugs can access syringe services, naloxone kits, overdose prevention training, STD testing, PrEP treatment, and syringe drop boxes in their area.
New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative
This organization offers community-led harm reduction services from a fully staffed team of people in recovery. They provide overdose prevention education, syringe access services, and referrals to community resources.
The Mountain Center
This treatment center has a harm reduction program serving rural Rio Arriba and northern Santa Fe counties. They offer a mobile syringe exchange program, Naloxone distribution, food services, HIV and hepatitis C testing, and overdose prevention training. Their office also provides medication-assisted treatment (MAT), case management, and counseling.
Government Grants & Resources
New Mexico Crisis Line
This service has a 24/7 crisis hotline, a peer-to-peer warmline, and links to the free addiction treatment program, New Mexico 5-Actions Program. Callers receive virtual care with 24/7 access to peer support through phone or texting.
New Mexico Department of Public Safety
This government organization provides a list of substance abuse resources to help New Mexico residents find the help they need. Website visitors can explore behavioral health services, search for treatment nearby, and learn more about what to expect in rehab.
New Mexico Department of Health
This government department lists behavioral health resources for New Mexico residents. They include state-funded residential treatment centers, intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), standard outpatient care, adolescent addiction services, and mental health treatment. Options for long-term care and shorter programs are available.
College Addiction Resources
The University of New Mexico
This university has an addiction and recovery program offering comprehensive, evidence-based care. Their facility provides multiple services, including outpatient detox, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), psychiatric services, primary care, case management, and individual, group, family, and couples therapy. They also have specialized care for pregnant women, adolescents, trauma survivors, and dual diagnosis.
St. John’s College
This college’s drug abuse prevention program offers free resources for students and their loved ones. They list addiction hotlines, 12-Step programs, and residential treatment centers. They also provide individual and group psychotherapy and treatment referrals for students struggling with mental health and substance abuse.
New Mexico State University Aggie Health and Wellness Center
This wellness center provides medical and psychological services for New Mexico State University students. Students have access to crisis services, mental health care, individual and group counseling, psychological assessments, and psychiatric evaluations. Students can access social service referrals for basic needs, childcare, counseling, and financial assistance.
LGBTQ+ Resources
Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico
This resource center connects New Mexico residents to LGBTQ+-affirming behavioral health care providers. They have a service directory with mental health care, substance abuse treatment, counseling services, harm reduction programs, specialized LGBTQ+ services, and more.
Bright Spaces, Welcome Places
This directory lists LGBTQ+-friendly resources and providers for various health and social services. New Mexico residents can search for multiple providers that offer addiction treatment, mental health care, holistic and natural medicine, fitness, childcare, primary care, sexual and reproductive healthcare, and more.
Common Bond New Mexico
This foundation works to strengthen the LGBTQ+ community by partnering with programs that offer targeted care. They have a list of community resources for SUD treatment, mental health care, peer support groups, crisis support, health and HIV services, and youth and senior services.
Veterans Programs
New Mexico VA Medical Centers
The VA offers addiction and mental health treatment for veterans and their families. The New Mexico VA Health Care System provides residential care, intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), and regular outpatient care. Veterans with VA benefits often have access to free or low-cost treatment.
New Mexico Veterans Integration Centers
This organization connects Veterans to free mental health, addiction, and co-occurring disorder counseling. Their program offers evidence-based, client-centered therapeutic interventions, including peer support services, parenting classes, anger management training, and individual, group, and family counseling. Veterans can also access housing assistance, transportation, clothing donations, and a food pantry.
New Mexico Department of Veterans Services
This government program assists New Mexico Veterans with health and social services. Their healthcare division provides resources for behavioral healthcare, such as mental healthcare, crisis lines, and counseling. They also have housing assistance, legal aid, educational programs, and employment training resources.
Indigenous & Tribal Programs
First Nations Community HealthSource
This program offers free health services for eligible Native American New Mexico residents with a Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB). They provide substance abuse treatment for adults and youth, primary care, HIV case management, mental health care, emergency assistance, social services, homeless outreach, diabetes prevention, and more.
Drug Laws in New Mexico
Good Samaritan Law
This law ensures the safety of individuals who intervene to assist someone experiencing an overdose and the individual in need. It prevents them from being subject to arrest, charges, prosecution, or conviction of criminal misconduct.
Cannabis Regulation Act
This law legalized the cultivation, manufacturing, purchasing, possession, and consumption of recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older.
Controlled Substances Regulations
This website explains laws and regulations concerning the possession of controlled substances. It further clarifies unlawful amounts, different controlled substances, and conviction sentences.