Las Cruces officials outline goals, priority populations for opioid-settlement spending

City of Las Cruces staff and members of the city'county opioid settlement advisory council on June 23 laid out a framework of strategies, goals, settings and target populations intended to guide spending of opioid settlement funds the city expects through 2038.

The advisory council recommended focusing initial funding on four core strategies selected at a March joint city'county session: medication-assisted treatment (MOUD); warm handoffs and recovery services; prevention programs; and data collection and reporting. Barbara Bancomo, the city's opioid settlement project lead, told the council the city is expected to receive nearly $10 million through 2038 and has received about $3.6 million so far.

Why it matters: Council members said they want the first round of spending to concentrate where it can save lives and avoid duplicating statewide efforts. The advisory council'backed goals include expanding access to MOUD, improving naloxone availability, universal screening in clinical settings and stronger transitions of care for people leaving hospitals or the criminal justice system.

At the June work session, Bancomo described the process used to reach recommendations: a needs assessment…