Thousands of New Mexico Inmates Need Addiction Treatment as Prison Program Struggles to Reach Everyone

New Mexico has expanded access to addiction treatment across its correctional facilities, reaching more than 1,400 incarcerated individuals, but shortages of qualified medical personnel and difficulties obtaining certain medications continue to complicate the initiative, according to Source NM. State officials outlined the program’s progress before lawmakers on November 12, while acknowledging that significant gaps remain in delivering consistent care to the prison population.

The initiative combines prescription medications with counselling to address substance use disorders, particularly opioid and alcohol dependency. Its expansion comes as state authorities attempt to strengthen rehabilitation services and prepare incarcerated individuals for their eventual return to society.

New Mexico Prison System Identifies Widespread Addiction Treatment Needs

Approximately 2,000 incarcerated people in New Mexico meet the medical criteria for substance use disorder treatment, representing 36% of the state’s prison population, according to a Corrections Department assessment. The scale of the problem reflects broader concerns across the state, where nearly 24% of residents are estimated to have substance use disorders. More than half of those cases involve opioid or alcohol-related conditions that may benefit from medication-based interventions.

To address the demand, the Corrections Department secured nearly $40 million in state funding through the Government Results and Opportunity programme, covering an implementation period of almost three years.

Legislative Finance Committee senior fiscal analyst Allegra Hernandez told lawmakers that 1,407 incarcerated individuals had accessed treatment during the programme’s current reporting period. Seven of New Mexico’s eight state-operated prisons now offer these services, with 815 participants continuing treatment into the initiative’s second year. The latest figures represent a considerable increase from the 176 individuals recorded as treatment recipients a year earlier.

Medication Supply and Healthcare Recruitment Hinder Expansion

Despite the programme’s progress, Corrections Department Health Services Administrator Wence Asonganyi identified several operational problems that could affect its long-term delivery.

A major concern involves the procurement and authorization of methadone, a medication commonly prescribed to manage opioid dependence. Although the department can administer other treatment medications through its own facilities, methadone prescriptions still require approval from an external healthcare provider. This arrangement creates uncertainty over the continuity of treatment should the contracted provider become unavailable or unable to supply the medication.

The department is also struggling to recruit behavioural health professionals capable of delivering psychotherapy and counselling. To compensate for the staffing deficit, officials have turned to telehealth services to maintain access to psychological support.

Asonganyi acknowledged that establishing a statewide treatment system has required considerable effort, despite improvements in the number of people receiving care.