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Here are some statistics on drug abuse in New Mexico:
Overdose Deaths: New Mexico saw a decrease in drug overdose deaths for the second consecutive year in 2023, with 948 deaths, down from a peak of 1,029 in 2021. In 2023, fentanyl was involved in 65% of overdose deaths, and methamphetamine was involved in 51%. The counties with the highest overdose death rates were Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and San Miguel.
ER Visits: In 2022, there were over 2,000 emergency department visits related to drug overdoses in New Mexico.
Children Removed from Homes: Parental substance use is a leading factor in child neglect and maltreatment, being a caregiver risk factor in at least 26% of cases. A 2019 law in New Mexico aimed to connect families of substance-exposed newborns with treatment services to keep families together, but a recent report found that many families are not receiving or accepting these services.
Incarceration Rates: Drug offenses are a significant driver of New Mexico's prison and jail populations. For new admissions in 2024, drug offenses accounted for 12% of male incarcerations and 26% of female incarcerations.
Drug-related crime statistics for New Mexico show a significant increase in drug offenses, particularly in Albuquerque. Here are some of the latest available statistics:
In 2023, Albuquerque had 4,749 drug offenses, which was a 116% increase from the 2,555 offenses reported in 2022.
Drug crimes comprised 35.4% of all bookings in Santa Fe County in 2015, which was the second-highest category after violent crimes. Drug possession was the most common offense (74%) in drug-related bookings, followed by possession of drug paraphernalia (17%).
Mexican drug trafficking organizations are the primary wholesale distributors of drugs in the state. Local gangs, including prison and street gangs, are also heavily involved in retail drug distribution, and this activity often contributes to violence in urban areas.
New Mexico's proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border makes it a significant corridor for drug smuggling. Border Patrol agents have been subjected to violence by drug smugglers.
Drug-related crimes are also linked to other types of offenses. Research suggests that an increase in drug use and addiction could be a factor in recent upswings in property crime in Albuquerque. For example, motor vehicle theft and property damage increased significantly in early 2024.
For more detailed information, you can review reports from the New Mexico Legislature and the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
Overdose Deaths: New Mexico saw a decrease in drug overdose deaths for the second consecutive year in 2023, with 948 deaths, down from a peak of 1,029 in 2021. In 2023, fentanyl was involved in 65% of overdose deaths, and methamphetamine was involved in 51%. The counties with the highest overdose death rates were Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and San Miguel.
ER Visits: In 2022, there were over 2,000 emergency department visits related to drug overdoses in New Mexico.
Children Removed from Homes: Parental substance use is a leading factor in child neglect and maltreatment, being a caregiver risk factor in at least 26% of cases. A 2019 law in New Mexico aimed to connect families of substance-exposed newborns with treatment services to keep families together, but a recent report found that many families are not receiving or accepting these services.
Incarceration Rates: Drug offenses are a significant driver of New Mexico's prison and jail populations. For new admissions in 2024, drug offenses accounted for 12% of male incarcerations and 26% of female incarcerations.
Drug-related crime statistics for New Mexico show a significant increase in drug offenses, particularly in Albuquerque. Here are some of the latest available statistics:
In 2023, Albuquerque had 4,749 drug offenses, which was a 116% increase from the 2,555 offenses reported in 2022.
Drug crimes comprised 35.4% of all bookings in Santa Fe County in 2015, which was the second-highest category after violent crimes. Drug possession was the most common offense (74%) in drug-related bookings, followed by possession of drug paraphernalia (17%).
Mexican drug trafficking organizations are the primary wholesale distributors of drugs in the state. Local gangs, including prison and street gangs, are also heavily involved in retail drug distribution, and this activity often contributes to violence in urban areas.
New Mexico's proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border makes it a significant corridor for drug smuggling. Border Patrol agents have been subjected to violence by drug smugglers.
Drug-related crimes are also linked to other types of offenses. Research suggests that an increase in drug use and addiction could be a factor in recent upswings in property crime in Albuquerque. For example, motor vehicle theft and property damage increased significantly in early 2024.
For more detailed information, you can review reports from the New Mexico Legislature and the U.S. Sentencing Commission.