NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Research shows that the fentanyl crisis has been getting worse every year in the U.S. but preliminary data for the most recent report is promising. That new study shows overdose death rates in New Mexico and across the nation are dropping.
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Since 2020, the state of New Mexico has been hit hard by the fentanyl crisis. “In 2020, New Mexico was ranked 11th highest in overdose death rates. Then in 2022, unfortunately, we had upped our numbers, we were 7th in overdose death rates,” said David Daniels, New Mexico Department of Health Harm Reduction Section Manager.
The exact overdose death rate numbers for 2023 aren’t in yet but researchers have some preliminary data and they’re seeing some surprising results. “From the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024…we did experience a 22% decrease in total drug deaths and a 32% decrease in fentanyl-involved death rates,” said Daniels.