Las Cruces Recovery Center urges expanded treatment access for Luna County amid rising overdose deaths

Tyler Allred, business development representative for the Las Cruces Recovery Center, told the Luna County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 11 that overdose deaths in New Mexico have risen sharply since 1990 and that the county lacks a full continuum of local treatment services.

Allred, invited by a commissioner to present, said the center — which opened in September 2024 in Dona Ana County — offers medically assisted detox and a 30‑day residential program, and that it serves residents across southern New Mexico. "The top line is the state of New Mexico," he said while showing state-vs.-national overdose graphs. "You can see that we are definitely higher than the national average. And that number just continues to go up." He added that "fentanyl and the methamphetamine, death overdoses have skyrocketed in the last 10 years."

Allred described program components that support reintegration: peer-led recovery meetings, an alumni app for aftercare, relapse‑prevention curricula and workforce supports such as resume building and mock interviews. He said the treatment model typically includes a 5–7 day detox followed by 30 days residential care and then warm handoffs to partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP) and sober-living placements.

On funding, Allred said the Las Cruces Recovery Center is "primarily a Medicaid facility," noting New Mexico's high Medicaid enrollment and confirming Medicaid is a main revenue source. When asked about outcomes, he reported internal, self‑reported figures: "We're seeing an 87.3 percent success rate as of July 31" on the day of an outcome check; he cautioned that this measure is self‑reported and that rates drop for people who return immediately to unsupportive home environments.

Allred called for local partners to develop court referral pathways and local stabilization services so residents can receive treatment instead of cycling through the jail system. "Why not use this kind of a supportive network to be able to offer something different, to actually work on somebody's struggles," he said, asking the county to help advocate for funding, space and collaboration with courts, medical providers and first responders.

Commissioners thanked Allred and expressed support for pursuing local options. The presentation prompted questions about sustainability and training; Allred said the center is Medicaid‑funded and that its programming includes workforce readiness components.

Next steps: the commission did not take formal action on the presentation; Allred encouraged local leaders to refer clients, join outreach and support grant or space efforts to build local capacity.