New Mexico Alcohol and Drug Use Statistics
Studies show that New Mexico is heavily impacted by drug use, particularly opiates and its relatively new problematic form, fentanyl. According to research done by the New Mexico Department of Health:1
New Mexico has the 11th highest rate of overdoses in the country as of 2020.
Methamphetamine-related deaths increased 280% between 2015 and 2020.
A quarter of deaths related to opiates were caused by prescription medication.
In 2020, one NM resident died about every 11 hours due to a drug overdose.
If you’re one of the many affected by the growing trend of substance misuse, there is help available. Call us at
800-926-9037
(
Who Answers?)
anytime for helping to figure out the best drug rehab in New Mexico for you and make sure you can pay for it.
How Much Does Alcohol and Drug Rehab Cost in New Mexico
The cost of rehab consists of various factors, such as:
Whether the program is inpatient or outpatient
Features and amenities (luxury or standard rehab facility)
The length of treatment
Your health insurance plan
Whether the center accepts your insurance
The geographic location
You can look to alternative funding sources if you don’t have insurance, such as fundraising or crowdfunding, or simply asking family members for help if your family is wealthy.
Where Can I Find Low-Cost and Free Rehabs in New Mexico?
State-funded rehabs utilize public resources to provide rehab to those in need. Organizations like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offer block grants to rehabs across the country to facilitate low-income rehab programs. You can find rehabs that offer sliding fee scales as well as rehab scholarships, thanks to these grants. Your local health and human services office will be able to give you referrals, as can the local 211 helplines.
Does Insurance Cover Drug Rehab in New Mexico?
With the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), health insurance providers and medical facilities must offer the same level of treatment for substance use disorder, now classified as a medical necessity. If you want to find out exactly what services are covered under your plan and what providers are in your network, call the number on the back of your health insurance card. You can also speak with an intake coordinator at a rehab center you’re interested in to verify your insurance.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a program for low-income individuals that are living at or below the federal poverty line or at 133% of the poverty line in homes with pregnant women or children.3 Reach out to your local social services agency to see if you qualify for this program. There are a multitude of state and private rehabs that accept Medicaid, you can find out if a center you want to utilize does by checking their website or calling.
Medicare
For people age 65 and older or those who have a disability, Medicare is a government-funded health insurance program. There are several parts to this insurance that pay for different services, such as medication management or behavioral therapy, with different qualifiers for each. According to SAMHSA, 54 rehab centers accept Medicare in New Mexico.
Private Insurance
You can find private health insurance through your employer or the open healthcare marketplace. If you’re unable to apply during open enrollment periods, you could qualify to apply during major life events, such as the birth or adoption of a child or moving to a new area.
Private health insurance companies, including popular New Mexico health insurance groups Aetna, Premera, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Presbyterian Health Plan, and True Health New Mexico, can help pay for the cost of rehab. However, not all services offered in a rehab center will be covered by insurance. Call the number on the back of your insurance card to find out what they’re able to pay for and where you can find rehab in your insurance network.
Popular Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers in New Mexico
With so many facilities to choose from, it can be challenging to know where to start. Here are a few of the state’s best rehab centers for you to begin your research.
Presbyterian Medical Services
Presbyterian Medical Services provides a full range of medical services for people of all ages, including mental health and substance use disorders. Their services include medication management, multisystemic therapy (MST), medication-assisted treatment (MAT), traditional healing therapy, and more types of individual and group therapies. They have over a dozen locations across the state.
Shadow Mountain Recovery Centers
With locations in Albuquerque, Taos, Rio Rancho, and Santa Fe, Shadow Mountain Recovery Centers offers a full continuum of care for addiction disorders and dual diagnoses. From MAT to residential or outpatient treatment, Shadow Mountain Recovery is dedicated to offering help every step of the way to ensure life-long recovery.
Their holistic programming includes meditation, sober outings, and nature-based adventures like ziplining. They accept most forms of insurance, including Magellan Health, Friday Health Plans, HNFS, and TRICARE.
Vista Taos Renewal Center
In El Prado, Vista Taos Renewal Center offers holistic treatment services for primary and ongoing addiction aftercare. They have a detox program that typically lasts six to 10 days, then an intensive residential program that focuses on whole-person healing and mindfulness training. Along with evidence-based treatment like individual and group therapy, they use holistic treatments such as yoga and massage therapy.
Santa Fe Recovery Center
Santa Fe Recovery Center offers detox, MAT, inpatient and outpatient programs, and aftercare options for people in Santa Fe. Their four Corners Detox Recovery Center in Gallup is now available for medically-supervised rehab from a severe addiction, followed up with an intensive inpatient program. Among their therapy options are traditional healing methods such as smudging, a sweat lodge, and prayer groups.
Inpatient vs. Outpatient Drug Rehab in New Mexico
Addiction treatment can look widely different from one person to another. There are multiple types of rehab, each one with individualized care plans and evidence-based therapies. You can find a program that’s tailor-made to your lifestyle, whether you need to remain in your community or if you need medical supervision and a different environment to live in while undergoing rehab.
If your needs include medical supervision and management to manage the initial withdrawal symptoms, look for a detox program. These programs typically range from one to two weeks in length of inpatient treatment, with a focus on medication-assisted treatment and therapies such as moral recognition and motivational interviewing to help encourage you to remain in treatment. Once you’ve finished your medical detox, it’s important to continue with your rehab in an inpatient or outpatient program.
Pros of Inpatient Drug Rehab
Inpatient addiction treatment is a holistic, intensive way to treat substance use disorder or a dual disorder because of the level of care provided. These programs have the highest level of care, with programs that range from one month or longer to a year-long that includes a stable, highly structured place to live and a schedule that helps them learn the life skills to succeed after graduation.
Another benefit of inpatient rehab is the wide range of services and amenities, depending on what center you choose. Some locations offer gourmet menus, while others provide the opportunity to meal plan with a nutritionist and provide residents with groceries to cook themselves. You can find a selection of fitness programs in some New Mexico rehabs, given the easy access to the great outdoors, such as hiking and ziplining through the desert. With inpatient rehab, you can take the opportunity to explore your passions and focus on building your core skills to maintain a healthy, sober lifestyle.
Cons of Inpatient Rehab
Inpatient care does have a downside. For example, the cost can be high and prohibitive. This is due to the level of care provided, as these residential facilities aim to provide for all daily care needs, including housing while you’re in treatment.
Because only medical needs are paid for by health insurance coverage, your plan probably won’t pay for all of the aspects of inpatient care, and you’ll need to find alternate methods of payment. As a result of this reality, many rehab centers offer financial assistance in the form of payment plans and referrals to medical loan companies.
Advantages of Outpatient Addiction Treatment
Outpatient rehab has the advantage of providing the most freedom and flexibility of all rehab types. This is great if you have responsibilities in your life that you can’t take time away from, such as a career or a family. There is also a greater number of outpatient programs across New Mexico, with 16 residential rehabs and 91 outpatient programs across the state.2
There are several variations of outpatient treatment, starting with the highest level of care, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), also known as day programs. PHPs require several hours of therapy every day or five days a week and often include medication management.
The next step down in outpatient care are intensive outpatient programs (IOP). These programs run for a minimum of nine hours per week, and you can often choose how many days per week that time is split into.4 An IOP usually relies heavily on individual and group counseling, but MAT may also be incorporated.
The lowest level of outpatient care is the standard outpatient program (SOP). These programs generally offer a single therapy session a week in a support group setting, with an individual therapy session often held telephonically. SOP is usually offered in conjunction with community therapy, either with a faith-based 12-step support group program or a SMART Recovery program that doesn’t have a spiritual aspect.
Disadvantages of Outpatient Rehab
The main disadvantage of outpatient rehab is the lack of structure and that there’s somewhat less accountability than inpatient rehab. In outpatient programs, you have the potential to slip up in your recovery during the times that you aren’t in treatment.
Types of Drug and Alcohol Rehabs in New Mexico
Depending on your background, it might be beneficial to your recovery to choose a rehab with programming specific to your interests and lifestyle.
Holistic Rehab
If you enjoy a more natural lifestyle and want your recovery to incorporate all aspects of your mind, body, and spirit, look for a holistic rehab. These programs have a variety of alternative therapies in addition to evidence-based treatments, such as animal therapy, music therapy, acupuncture, and art therapies. They also tend to offer meditation-based fitness programs, such as yoga, qigong, and tai chi. In New Mexico, numerous holistic rehabs incorporate native American traditions into treatment programs such as medicinal smoke circles.
Faith-Based Rehab
At faith-based New Mexico alcohol rehabs or drug rehabs, you can utilize your spiritual strength with a community of people with similar religious backgrounds. Look for a faith-based rehab if you think you would benefit from pastoral counseling and prayer circles in addition to standard rehab treatments like individual and group therapy sessions.
Dual Diagnosis Rehab
When suffering from co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, you’re considered to have a dual diagnosis. Generally, mental health issues overlap the symptoms associated with substance misuse, though medication needs can vary greatly.
Substance misuse also tends to compound with mental illness, with depression worsening when using illicit substances or drinking alcohol and vice versa, among other complicating factors. As a result, it can be particularly difficult to manage the needs of someone with both issues, and traditionally, many mental health facilities have refused to see patients with a dual diagnosis.
We now have numerous dual diagnosis rehabs in New Mexico and around the country, 145 in the state, according to SAMHSA. These centers offer the same caliber of addiction treatment as other FDA-approved rehab programs, as well as a team of mental health counselors, therapists, and psychiatrists. The programs are designed to provide a stable environment for people dealing with substance misuse as well as behavioral, personality, or other mental health disorders.
Luxury Rehab
Luxury rehabs offer a higher standard of comfort and convenience than other rehabs, with a wide range of amenities and roomy suites. They usually have a fitness center, often including a pool, spa, and masseuse, and a range of outdoor and indoor recreation areas. A luxury rehab might also have the latest treatments for trauma and addiction, such as EMDR.
Executive Rehab
An executive rehab has a higher focus on confidentiality than other centers to help you preserve your professional reputation. They also tend to be understanding towards your never-ending responsibilities and offer business centers on-site for you to keep up-to-date on your emails. Executive rehabs cater to busy professionals that appreciate higher-quality amenities and usually offer gourmet dining, fitness centers, and state-of-the-art addiction therapies.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-assisted treatment is a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment that pairs medication management with intensive counseling and therapy. The FDA has approved a series of medications to help prevent relapse and lessen withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Benefits of MAT include:5
- Longer times spent and greater success in rehab programs
- Better outcomes for pregnant women and their families
- Higher success rates in getting and keeping a steady job
Only certified doctors can prescribe medication for opiate use disorder (OUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). In New Mexico, there are 14 federally-certified opiate treatment programs.2 Call us at
800-926-9037
(Who Answers?)
to find a certified MAT rehab in New Mexico or near you.
How to Get Methadone at a Methadone Clinic: Methadone is a full-on opioid agonist that binds to opiate receptors in the brain, similar to when using an opiate-based medication or illicit drug.6 This helps relieve withdrawal symptoms and cravings by tricking the body into believing the substance you’re addicted to has been consumed.
This medication produces a similar effect as an opiate, but on a lesser level. As a result of this, there is a risk of misuse of the medication. A federally-certified opiate provider can assess your situation and help you create a treatment plan that includes counseling, drug education, and medication management.
Finding Suboxone Doctors:
Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist that works to relieve withdrawal symptoms and cravings by activating opiate receptors in the brain.7 This medication can cause a slight euphoric or high feeling, though not as noticeable as with methadone use. In New Mexico, 27 clinics can prescribe Suboxone.2
Naltrexone for Alcohol or Opioid Addiction:
Naltrexone is FDA approved to treat both AUD and OUD.8 It’s available in both a pill form for alcohol addiction and an extended-release injection for AUD or OUD. The pill form may be prescribed for home use by a certified MAT provider, but the injection is done in-office by your doctor. There are 27 clinics in the state that prescribe Naltrexone.2
Antabuse (Disulfiram) for Alcohol Addiction:
Antabuse helps prevent relapse by making you feel very sick if you drink alcohol while on the medication.9 It works by preventing your body from breaking down alcohol, leading to a rapid buildup of toxic compounds that lead to gastric upset, headaches, and other uncomfortable symptoms. You can be prescribed this and other medications for alcohol addiction by a certified prescribing physician found at rehabs across the country.
Acamprosate for Alcohol Use Disorder:
Acamprosate works by lessening cravings originating in the brain, helping maintain long-term relapse prevention.10 This medication can be taken long-term and can be prescribed by a certified AUD MAT provider.
Should I Travel to New Mexico for Alcohol and Drug Treatment?
There are many considerations when looking for New Mexico drug rehabs and alcohol rehabs, such as the cost of treatment and if you have a supportive network in the area. If you have health insurance coverage, they might allow you to seek treatment in another locality if you aren’t from the state.
Regional Considerations in New Mexico: North vs. South and City vs. Rural
Northern and Southern regions of New Mexico may share a fertile belt of land, but they are as different as night and day in other aspects. The central region, where the capital Albuquerque sits, is home to the majority of the population and the most rehab centers.2 Central New Mexico is home to a wealth of cultural centers, museums, vineyards, skiing, the ABQ Biopark, and historic Route 66.
Northern New Mexico is a gorgeous landscape dotted with ancient history from a wide range of native Americans, from Acoma to Zuni, such as in the local Chaco Canyon National Park. The Northern Mountains and the Rio Grande are just a couple of the area’s famous rock formations. This area is famous for its cuisine, culture, and outdoor activities, with mountain biking and skiing leading the pack as visitors’ and locals’ favorites.
The southern part of the state was among the first wilderness areas in the country and is still full of wide-open spaces as well as recent and ancient history. Cliffside dwellings built into the side of the region’s Gila Mountains, recently renamed the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, feature cave carvings from the 13th-century natives. When looking for a place to undergo rehab, the southeast sector of the state has the most options, with a dozen different centers in the area.2
Drug and Alcohol Laws in New Mexico
New Mexico is among the hardest-hit areas in the country by substance misuse and has enacted various laws and bills to help reduce the damage done by drugs and alcohol.
New Mexico Harm Reduction Program: Created in 1997 and updated in 2017, the New Mexico Harm Reduction Program helps provide access to sterile needles and Naloxone to people addicted to intravenous drugs.11 In 2016, they exchanged over eight million needles and successfully reversed 1,222 opiate overdoses in New Mexico.
Healthy Workplaces Act of 2021: Beginning 2022, most private companies with at least two employees must provide them with paid time off, up to 64 hours per year for full-time employees and 32 hours for part-time employees.12 This paid sick leave can be used to undergo needed medical procedures, including substance use and mental health treatment.
Jail Diversion Services: This program is designed to offer a chance at rehab to people entering the court system due to drug and alcohol misuse.13 UNM’s Jail Diversion Services program coordinates with mental health courts, parole, and state probation and offers pretrial services. Clients are referred to substance use treatment, medical care, educational programs, psychiatric treatment, and community resources as they’re available.
If you’re a New Mexican or a visitor looking to enjoy a holistic rehab experience in the area, give us a call at
800-926-9037
(Who Answers?)
, day or night. Our compassionate addiction experts are standing by to answer all your questions, verify your insurance, and help you locate and get started with a drug and alcohol rehab in New Mexico or elsewhere that’s perfect for you.
Resources
- New Mexico Department of Health. (2021). Drug Overdose in NM Factsheet March 2021
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. (2022). Treatment Locator.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Eligibility.
- National Library of Health. (2022). Substance Abuse: Clinical Issues in Intensive Outpatient Treatment. Chapter 3. Intensive Outpatient Treatment and the Continuum of Care.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Medication-Assisted Treatment.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Methadone.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Buprenorphine.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Naltrexone.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2022). Antabuse.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2022). Acamprosate.
- New Mexico Legislature. (2017). Harm Reduction Program Overview.
- New Mexico Department of Workforce Development. (2022). New Mexico Paid Sick Leave.
- the University of Mexico. (2022). Jail Diversion Services.
