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Taos Alive presents youth prevention, mentorship and naloxone distribution work; announces potential Narcan vending pilot
Summary
Taos Alive executive director Miles Bonney outlined prevention, peer mentorship and naloxone distribution programs; he said Taos County youth substance‑use indicators have decreased and that a Narcan vending machine pilot site may be selected for Taos.
Miles Bonney, executive director of Taos Alive (an outreach program affiliated with Holy Cross Hospital), gave the council an overview of the group's prevention, mentorship and harm‑reduction work in Taos County.
Bonney described an upstream prevention model focused on youth (Botvin Life Skills curriculum in schools), peer‑mentor programs, a middle‑school presentation campaign to reduce perceived rates of youth drug use, and the Taos High School wellness room staffing pilot. He presented county Youth Risk Resiliency Survey data showing reductions in current marijuana and alcohol use among local high school students compared with earlier years and noted that Taos County was decreasing at a faster rate than the state in some measures.
Bonney and colleague Laura also described outreach work — including free mentorship, school partnerships, community events and Narcan (naloxone) distribution and training. Bonney said he is the Northeastern hub for naloxone distribution and that, while much Narcan is already being distributed, he is working with the state to site a free Narcan vending machine in Taos that could hold multiple boxes and be available 24/7.
The presentation included harm‑reduction context. Bonney reported recent outreach with the Department of Health drug‑testing equipment and said one regional testing contact suggested his results have not found fentanyl in stimulants such as cocaine, but cautioned that testing capacity and local circumstances vary.
Council members thanked Taos Alive for prevention and harm‑reduction work and encouraged public access to naloxone. Bonney offered trainings and free supplies for community groups.
Why it matters: Prevention, mentorship and naloxone access affect youth safety, substance‑use outcomes and immediate overdose responses in the community. Bonney’s presentation pointed to existing local programs and possible expansion of naloxone access through a vending‑style distribution pilot.
Ending: Council members and staff encouraged continued partnership to expand naloxone access and to keep prevention efforts focused on youth and schools.
