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Trump attacks Liz Cheney using violent war imagery; Election insights: What 50 Ohioans want to hear from candidates; Consumer groups slam CA Supreme Court ruling on lemon law; On National Brush Day, new resources in KY to boost oral health.

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Harris says her campaign is prepared for Trump to prematurely claim victory, Pennsylvania election officials say safeguards in the system are preventing vote fraud, and Montana Senate race could hinge on the "political refugee" vote.

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A Cambodian poultry farmer who lost his livelihood could be a hero for others, rural Montanans are anxiously awaiting a court ruling over a climate lawsuit brought by young people, and Northeast states say more housing for working families could boost jobs.

Substance misuse, suicide mortality rates decline slightly

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Friday, August 2, 2024   

The most recent data from the group Trust for America's Health show overdoses and suicides remain at historic levels - despite a small decrease in 2022. But the findings for New Mexico are more encouraging than many other states.

Over the past two decades, said Brandon Reavis senior government relations manager for the Trust, said deaths from alcohol, drugs and suicide in the United States increased by 142%, from 74,000 in 2002 to almost 208,000 deaths in 2022.

"The report shows that in terms of combined deaths from alcohol, suicide and drug overdose, New Mexico is actually doing better than the national average," he said. "There was a 7% decline in the state, compared to a 1% decline across the country."

In contrast, he said, New Mexico has seen an increase in deaths from both fentanyl misuse and unintentional cocaine overdoses. While the combined rate of alcohol, drug and suicide deaths in 2022 was slightly lower for the first time in five years, it is still more than double what it was 20 years ago.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

New Mexico has had suicide prevention success using harm-reduction techniques, but Reavis said the state needs more oversight of insurance providers and sustainable funding for the 988 lifeline. He noted that the new data comes at a time when many groups are reporting more mental-health issues, especially among kids.

"New Mexico was near the bottom of the state rankings in terms of school mental-health services," she said, "so, surging resources and training for those types of services, I think, is really critical to achieving the kind of generational and foundational changes that we need here."

Suicide is often not preceded by warnings. New Mexico authorities believe there have been three suicides at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge near Taos this year. Some community leaders say more bridge safety features are needed, but there are crisis hotline phones at the bridge, as well as an intervention security unit.


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