Alcohol And Drug Addiction In Albuquerque, New Mexico
The state of New Mexico, and the city of Albuquerque in particular, struggle from high rates of substance abuse. Known for high crime and poverty rates, popular culture closely associates Albuquerque with substance abuse. Breaking Bad is a popular crime drama set in Albuquerque highlighting a dying man’s transition from a teacher to a drug dealer. Although highly dramatized, the show did reflect realistic scenes of substance abuse in Albuquerque.
New Mexico has ranked as the 3rd highest and 14th highest for percent of teen and adult drug and alcohol usage respectively. While there are limited treatment facilities in the immediate area, there are several in surrounding regions that specialize in various forms of addiction and abuse rehab and recovery services.
High Levels Of Drug Abuse In Albuquerque
Located close to the Mexican border and situated among major highways, Albuquerque remains a major hub for drug trafficking. State authorities have been increasingly seizing large amount of Fentanyl (a synthetic Opioid nearly 100 times more powerful than Morphine) in the form of pills, powder, and laced with other substances such as counterfeit prescription pills; between October and November of 2021, the local Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confiscated 48 pounds of the chemical.
Officials say the drug market has changed over the past several years; in 2016, it was Meth that seemed to be the drug of choice, then Heroin, now Fentanyl.
Heroin used to be quite abundant. Now, it’s difficult to find – 90% of the time, if you’re looking for Heroin, you’re going to get Fentanyl. It’s, by far, way more abundant than Heroin is or was now.
In a 30 year period between 1990 and 2021, approximately 43,000 New Mexicans suffered from either a drug or alcohol-induced fatality. The numbers peaked at the highest in 2020 with 1,770 alcohol-related deaths and 766 fatal drug overdoses across the state.

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Traveling From Albuquerque For Rehab
The nature of traveling long distances for rehab allows patients more commitment and focus on sobriety. Patients have fewer distractions, and they are more likely to focus on their treatment process. Individuals can be even more diligent in their healing because they are independent of family and around people they don’t know. Additionally, traveling provides patients with access to unique treatments that may not be available locally.
Find Treatment Today
If you are considering attending a rehab facility but you don’t know where to turn, there is help available. Contact a treatment provider today to learn about available options.
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Krystina Murray

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Krystina Murray has received a B.A. in English at Georgia State University, has over 5 years of professional writing and editing experience, and over 15 years of overall writing experience. She enjoys traveling, fitness, crafting, and spreading awareness of addiction recovery to help people transform their lives.
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