Las Cruces officials review opioid-settlement needs assessment as fentanyl cited as leading cause of fatal overdoses

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — City and county officials on May 13 reviewed a preliminary community needs assessment tied to national opioid settlements and discussed next steps for spending the funds, which the presenters said are intended to "address the harms of the opioid crisis." Liz Olivares of Crimson Research at New Mexico State University presented preliminary data showing fentanyl as the leading substance in local fatal overdoses and urging more outreach and data before final recommendations are made.

The assessment — compiled from administrative records, seven focus groups and a 53-person street outreach survey — found that fentanyl (including laced products referred to locally as “blues”), methamphetamine and alcohol are among the substances driving harm in Dona Ana County. "The number one causing fatal overdose is fentanyl — in the county at 46 percent," Olivares told the joint City Council and County Commission. She emphasized the findings are preliminary and that 2023 data are still being cleaned and are not yet published.

Why it matters: the city is slated to receive nearly $10 million from the national settlements and the county roughly $14.5 million over 17 years; presenters said the city has already received about $3.5 million and the county about $4.0 million. The money is intended for treatment, prevention and related services, and the advisory council will…