New Mexico Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation
Treatment Situation
The border area between New Mexico and Mexico is thinly populated and has restricted
natural or man made barriers to illegal crossing. This, together with an widespread
road system that cross the state in all directions, makes New Mexico a haven
for the transshipment of illegal drugs from Mexico to the interior of United
States. New Mexico’s nearness to the Mexican border is an extra susceptibility
to illegal drugs smuggled through the major unguarded borders. Additional threats
to the region are the smuggling of controlled substances via automobiles, including
aircraft, buses, rail or even walking. New Mexico is also considered a hub for
significant amounts of drug proceeds being laundered through small businesses.
Most of the New Mexico/Mexico international border is open arid desert and
is generally isolated with numerous roads, trails, trenches, footpaths, and
farms which let smugglers easy access into the U.S. The drug trade in New Mexico
is principally controlled by the Mexican Mafia who are closely integrated, organized
and collaborate with the local street gangs.
Another factor significantly affecting New Mexico is the limited availability
of law enforcement and the strain on the Judiciary system. Overloading of the
court system, lack of jail space and a multitude of alien smugglers has run
down the system. New immigration polices and strengthening of the border patrols
have made some impact on both alien and drug smuggling, but the cost has been
enormous.
Cocaine
Addiction
The El Paso/Juarez corridor serves as a transshipment point for cocaine to
various locations in the United States. Cocaine is transported through New Mexico
by the drug traffickers at an alarming rate. Large quantities of cocaine are
regularly seized from commercial trucks, automobiles and trucks. Once the cocaine
arrives in New Mexico, it is re packaged for shipment to other states. Cocaine
is also made readily available for local distribution throughout New Mexico
in small amounts. Local law enforcement authorities and hospitals consistently
rank cocaine and crack cocaine as a major inner city problem.
The majority of powder cocaine is converted to crack cocaine. In smaller municipalities,
crack cocaine use and distribution is at levels that are considered dangerous
to health. Numerous ethnic gangs play a major role in the distribution of crack
cocaine in most urban areas. Law enforcement data reveal that users of crack
cocaine can be found in all social and economic levels of society. Associated
with the use of cocaine has been the gang related violence, crime, thefts and
inner city poverty.
Heroin
Addiction
Mexican black tar and brown heroin are routinely seized in New Mexico. Black
tar heroin has long been available in the Mexican states. Heroin is most commonly
smuggled in secret compartments in private vehicles and concealed on persons.
In all of urban New Mexico, Mexican black tar heroin is easily available and
widely abused. The heroin is usually carried across the border by couriers.
Heroin smuggling continues on the increase mainly because of steady decrease
in price. A local enforcement effort to curb heroin spread has resulted in numerous
arrests but the drug smuggling continues unabated.
Methamphetamine
Addiction
Methamphetamine is the most common drug abused in the state and is widely
available. Locally manufactured methamphetamine has decreased because of the
clamp down, seizures of individuals and lack of availability of precursor chemicals.
However, methamphetamine from Mexico still continues to be smuggled into the
State. The major meth trade is controlled by the Mexicans. Because of the large
rural area of New Mexico, authorities are always on the look out for clandestine
laboratories.
Club
Drugs
All types of club drugs are available in New Mexico. MDMA (ecstasy), Ketamine,
LSD, and GHB are frequently used at night clubs and rave parties. Rave parties
are held routinely in remote areas to avoid detection by law enforcement. Law
enforcement continually infiltrates such parties in an attempt to arrest the
major Drug Traffickers.
The majority of the club drugs are smuggled in from Mexico where purchases can
be made over-the-counter from unscrupulous pharmacists. Ecstasy, Rohypnol, and
other pharmaceuticals are being used at rave parties and are brought in from
California and Texas. The use of these types of drugs has not skyrocketed, as
in other metropolitan areas in the United States.
Prescription
Drugs
The abuse of prescription drugs continues to be a significant enforcement
issue. Hydrocodone, oxycontin, valium, methadone, Fentanyl, soma, Vicodin and
Percocet are the most widely abused drugs. These drugs are generally obtained
using forged prescriptions, doctor shopping, thefts from pharmacies, illegal
distribution by physicians/pharmacies and via the internet. Because of the lucrative
drug trade, fake drugs from Mexico have infiltrated the market and made matters
worse. New Mexico also has a severe shortage of physicians and this shortage
has led to the State granting prescription permission to physicians from other
states.
New Mexico has recently become one of the few states to grant prescribing
authority to psychologists who have no medical or pharmaceutical training.
Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana is the most frequently controlled substance that is seized in the
New Mexico area. Marijuana is smuggled in the state via automobiles vans and
trucks. Seizures of marijuana along the highways is quite common. The majority
of marijuana is smuggled in from Mexico and Texas. Locally grown marijuana is
also widely available. The temperate climate and large forest land makes domestic
cultivation of marijuana appealing to the drug traffickers.
Substance
Abuse Prevention
DEA Mobile Enforcement Teams have been established in response to the overwhelming
problem of drug-related violent crime in towns and cities across the nation.
DEA Regional Enforcement Teams have been established to target drug organizations
operating in the United States where there is a lack of sufficient local drug
law enforcement.
Drug Proceeds
The drug trade is associated with lucrative financial profits. These drug proceeds
are difficult to trace and seize. Money laundering is commonly associated with
drug traffickers. The state government is routinely conducting financial investigations
to identify and seize assets acquired from drug smuggling operations. Currency
seizures are on the increase and have been a major deterrence to drug trafficking
in the State
Drug Laws
Recently the state has enacted the Lynn Pierson Compassionate Use Act to allow
qualified patients to possess an “adequate supply” of marijuana,
which they must obtain from a “licensed producer.” This measure
was passed by the Senate and is currently being reviewed by the House Agriculture
and Water Resources Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. Another bill
awaiting legislation is one that protects individuals from drug possession charges
when they call 911 to save the life of an overdose victim. A third bill that
has just passed will help treatment of women inmates with a history of narcotic
addiction.
Medicaid Coverage of Substance Abuse Treatment
Recently the House Memorial 75 and Senate Memorial 72, both directed the state
Medicaid program to apply to the federal government for approval to include
substance abuse treatment as a covered service for Medicaid recipients. If the
amendment is approved, millions of dollars will be available into New Mexico
to increase substance abuse treatment.
New Mexico Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Rehabilitation Categories
