And to think our Governor and her gang passed legalized pot. POT IS HARMFUL! My medical friends have told me that for years. How Pot Affects Your Mind and Body It is just plain horrible what is going on in New Mexico! The killing of God’s babies through abortion and gun fire, children killing children, the future is bleak here in New Mexico, unless the people change their ways and come to God. I have been doing many funerals that last 2 1/2 years now, more than ever. Many funeral home directors tell me that funerals for drug overdoses is at an all-time high in New Mexico. We are killing our children. We all are responsible! Mind altering drugs are readily available to our children here in New Mexico. My days and nights have become restless as I see so many do not beleive in you Lord here in New Mexico and America, many that say they beleive no longer go to your Church……breaks my heart Lord…..
With National Prevention Week in full swing and the number of annual drug overdose deaths in the U.S. reaching over 100,000, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the States with the Biggest Drug Problems, as well as accompanying videos and expert commentary, to highlight the areas that stand to be most affected.
This study compares the 50 states and the District in terms of 21 key metrics, ranging from arrest and overdose rates to opioid prescriptions and employee drug testing laws. You can find some highlights below.
Drug Abuse & Prevention in New Mexico (1=Biggest Problem; 25=Avg.):
- 20th – Share of Teenagers Who Used Illicit Drugs in the Past Month
- 17th – Share of Adults Who Used Illicit Drugs in the Past Month
- 27th – Opioid Pain Reliever Prescriptions per 100 People
- 12th – Drug Overdose Deaths per Capita
- 23rd – Share of Adults Who Couldn’t Get Treatment for Illicit Drug Use in the Past Year
To view the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/drug-use-by-state/35150
More from WalletHub
Expert Commentary
What are the most effective measures state and local authorities can take to combat the opioid epidemic?
“Increasing access to evidence-based, effective treatments is the most important thing states and local leaders can do to address the opioid epidemic. It is also important that state and local leaders adopt harm reduction practices (e.g., naloxone access, drug checking, syringe service programs) that can help mitigate the harms associated with opioid use. Lastly, we all need to work together to eliminate the stigma associated with opioids and other substance use disorders. If people are afraid to seek the help they need for fear of being treated badly, then any state/local efforts will not be successful.”
William W. Stoops, Ph.D. – Professor, University of Kentucky; Associate Director for Clinical Research, Substance Use Priority Research Area
“At the local and state levels, supporting access to harm reduction services and evidence-based treatment such as buprenorphine and other medications for opioid use disorder should be a priority. Harm reduction services include syringe services where clean needles are exchanged or provided and naloxone access initiatives to allow individuals to obtain this life-saving drug. Paired with formal treatment services, this suite of options has the potential to prevent opioid overdose and secondary infections that are common with injection opioid use. It is important to note that these services remain heavily stigmatized, particularly in rural areas of the country. Given their potential to effectively treat opioid use disorder and prevent infectious disease complications, more public health and health professions education is necessary to support their use.”
Berkeley Franz, Ph.D. – Associate Professor; Endowed Faculty Fellow in Population Health Science, Ohio University
Why do American doctors over-prescribe pain medication? To what degree is this responsible for the current epidemic?
“Prescriptions for opioids have decreased significantly, yet the opioid crisis has worsened – that should tell us something about the relationship between these two events. No doubt prescriptions contributed to the problem early on, based on very bad, misused information. Today, arguably those who need opioids the most are not getting enough of them.”
Charles France, Ph.D. – Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center at San
“Starting in the 1990s, a new class of long-acting opioids was aggressively marketed as a safe solution for managing long-term and chronic pain. Unfortunately, the risk of opioid addiction was much higher than the companies represented at the time, and many people became dependent on these opioid pills. When prescribing practices changed and people were unable to get their usual amount, some people shifted to heroin, and in recent years, to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which have a much deadlier profile.”
Scott T. Walters, Ph.D. – Regents Professor, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
What should family or friends do if they suspect someone has a drug problem?
“Family and friends should provide support and assist their loved one in finding evidence-based, quality treatment or harm reduction services if this is what their loved one wants. It is important to remember that coercive approaches are rarely effective, and there is not good evidence in support of bombarding folks with confrontational ‘interventions’ or trying to shame someone out of using. Family and friends of people with substance use disorders may also benefit from attending therapy themselves, as their loved one’s substance use may cause them anxiety or pain.”
Shoshana V. Aronowitz, PhD, MSHP, FNP-BC – Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
“Some of the best things that family and friends can do are to carry naloxone with them and educate themselves on the signs and symptoms of an overdose as well as connect their friends and family with harm reduction resources such as naloxone and/or fentanyl test strips to ensure more safety while they use. It is also important to show and share your support for them rather than cut them off for the sake of tough love, the idea that rock bottom is necessary for patients to become sober is inaccurate and outdated. We must show empathy and support and love to those struggling with a drug problem and help them find the incremental ways to keep themselves healthy and safe, doing this helps patients start to take ownership/control of their health and or addiction, many patients find benefit in non-judgmental situations and groups focused on supporting them. Educating yourself on the stigma associated with harm reduction as well as MOUD so that you can help them find and utilize what is evidence-based and truly helpful, will go a long way towards helping them recover.”
Dan Arendt, Pharm.D., BCPS – Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati & UC Health
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
The Wrath of God has been present for years in America, many are blinded by it, made it political, put politics before God and made it their god.
I have warned for years that many Pastors put the salt on the shelf and replaced it with the candy jar.
