Opioid Safety & Overdose Prevention
News
August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day and New Mexicans are reminded of the vital importance of preventing and reversing overdoses. The use of Naloxone (commonly known as Narcan) to counteract the effects of overdose and fentanyl test strips to detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs c... « read more »
A New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) survey finds 85 percent of adults in the state recognize prescription opioid abuse to be an extremely serious public health problem in our state, with nearly two-thirds of those surveyed reporting they know someone who is or has been addicted to opioids. « read more »
Today, the New Mexico Department of Health announced continued progress in addressing prescription drug overdose in New Mexico with its latest state quarterly prescribing report showing improved prescribing practices for opioids. « read more »
Expired and unused prescription drugs can be dropped off for disposal on April 28th as part of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s, Drug Take Back Day. « read more »
Today, the New Mexico Department of Health announced that a recent report from the National Safety Council says New Mexico is one of only thirteen states and Washington, D.C., given its highest mark of “Improving” in strengthening laws and regulations to reduce prescription painkiller deaths. « read more »
The New Mexico Department of Health urges New Mexicans to bring expired, unwanted or unused prescription drugs to collection sites throughout the state as part of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s 14th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. « read more »
Today, the New Mexico Department of Health announced that the amount of opioids prescribed in New Mexico have significantly declined, dropping by 5 percent for the first quarter in 2017, compared to last year. Additionally, benzodiazepine prescriptions decreased by 3 percent over the same period. « read more »
Prescription pills for disposal can be brought to collection sites in dozens of communities in New Mexico staffed by state and local police and county sheriff’s departments. The service is free and anonymous. « read more »
Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced the awarding of a $200,000 grant from the Pfizer Inc. Naloxone Access Program to fight drug overdose deaths in New Mexico. New Mexico is one of five states receiving grant funding from Pfizer to fund initiatives focused on increasing public awareness of risk... « read more »
Today, the New Mexico Department of Health announced that the state’s drug overdose death rate improved from 49th worst in the nation to 42nd. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New Mexico also saw a 7 percent decline in overdose deaths from 2014 to 2015. « read more »
Prescription pills for disposal can be brought to collection sites in dozens of communities in New Mexico staffed by state and local police and county sheriff’s departments. The service is free and anonymous. « read more »
Today, the New Mexico Department of Health announced that nearly two-thirds of New Mexico counties saw a decline in overdose deaths last year. The department released county-by-county data, which shows overdose deaths decreased in 20 of 33 counties. Earlier this year, the Department of Health report... « read more »
Today, the New Mexico Department of Health announced that drug overdose deaths in the state decreased by 9 percent last year. Preliminary mortality data from 2015 shows that the number of drug overdose deaths among New Mexicans dropped from 540 in 2014 to 492 in 2015. « read more »
The Department of Health reported a significant increase in the number of naloxone prescriptions dispensed from local community pharmacies. Naloxone is an easy to use, safe and effective medication that can rapidly begin reversing the effects of an opioid overdose for about 30-60 minutes, sufficient... « read more »
Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced New Mexico’s participation in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday. This day is an opportunity for the safe disposal of unwanted or unused prescription medications. « read more »
The New Mexico Department of Health announced today that more than 900 opioid overdose reversals were reported in 2014 due to the use of the drug naloxone. That’s almost a 29 percent increase in reversals from 2013. The Department of Health has been working with various partners and agencies to in... « read more »
Starting today, the Drug Enforcement Administration is treating hydrocodone combination products as a more restrictive category of controlled substances (Schedule II from Schedule III). Hydrocodone combination products are drugs that contain hydrocodone and another substance, such as acetaminophen... « read more »
There a fine line between prescription drug use and abuse, and the New Mexico Department of Health reports this week progress in reducing the state’s prescription drug abuse problem. The New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy announced this week a 10 percent decrease... « read more »
The New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy announce today a 10 percent decrease in the total amount of prescription opioids dispensed by pharmacies in New Mexico from 2012 to 2013. « read more »
The New Mexico Department of Health urges residents to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Collection sites in Southwest New Mexico as well as state-wide will be set up as and staffed by state and local police and county sheriff's departments. The service is free and anonymous. « read more »