Opioid overdoses have spiked dramatically in parts of Northern New Mexico according to the Department of Health. Testing revealed significantly increased fentanyl levels are the likely culprits.
DOH Harm Reduction Section Manager David Daniels, said overdoses increased by 48% in Rio Arriba County, 104% in Santa Fe County and 340% in Taos County from July through September of this year compared to the same period last year.
“We're cautious to say that this is a trend right now,” Daniels said “This is clearly a spike. We would need more data to ensure that this was truly a trend that we're experiencing.”
Daniels said opioids in the area were found to have a much higher percentage of fentanyl. Specifically, a white powder substance that typically tests with about a 1% concentration of fentanyl has instead been testing at 15 to 20%.
He said the drugs with increased potency have not been found in Albuquerque or other areas outside of the three northern New Mexico counties, and that the typical blue fentanyl pills have not been found to have increased potency.
Daniels encouraged anyone who might be using opioids to get their supply tested, which can even be done by mail. Testing can be done at the Mountain Center in Española, the New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative in Albuquerque, and other areas around the state. Daniels said DOH will be adding a list of all locations to its website soon.
“If they get it tested, within 20 minutes we'll be able to see that it is clearly more than 1%,” he said, “and someone can go ahead and make that decision as to how they were to use that substance at that point in time.”
He encouraged users to take steps to avoid overdose such as “going low and slow” — using less than they are used to — never using alone, never mixing substances, and always carrying naloxone, also known as Narcan, at all times.
“Every single county, essentially, in New Mexico has a public health office that's able to give out free Narcan to anyone that needs it,” he said, “as well as hitting up some of our contracted agencies.”
Information on how to get naloxone delivered for free is available on the DOH’s harm reduction website, and public health office locations are also listed online.
The overdose data was in a larger overall report that is a part of DOH’s substance use epidemiology program.
DRUG CHECKING LOCATIONS:
Española
The Mountain Center (505-983-6158)
1000 N. Paseo De Onate
Espanola, NM 87532
Albuquerque
New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative (505-235-2847)
204 Madeira Dr. NE,
Albuquerque, NM 87108
Las Cruces
New Mexico Department of Health – Las Cruces (575-528-5001)
1170 N. Solano
Las Cruces, NM 88001
Roswell
Alianza of New Mexico (575-623-1995)
1200 S. Richardson Ave
Roswell, NM 88203
Support for this coverage comes from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
