DRUG REHAB FUNDED

SANTA FE - Most of Gov. Gary Johnson's drug-reform package died in the
Legislature, but one bill expected to have a major impact, at least for
addicts seeking help, passed and was signed by Johnson last week.

Senate Bill 628 provides $9.8 million in the first year of a three-year
program to expand drug-treatment services to New Mexico residents and some
state prisoners.

The funding should help 2,100 to 2,500 substance abusers receive treatment.
Under the bill, the state Health Department will receive:

* $5 million to expand or create regional substance-abuse intervention,
treatment and harm-reduction programs.

* $1.8 million to expand statewide substance-abuse prevention programs for
youth.

* $1 million to create community reintegration programs in conjunction with
the state Corrections Department for parolees with substance-abuse problems.

The Corrections Department also will get $2 million for an alternative
treatment program in a state prison and for residential treatment programs
for some female ex-convicts.

The Health Department spent about $32.4 million in state and federal
funding this fiscal year on its substance-abuse prevention and treatment
programs, which serve about 10,500 people, according to state analysts.

The additional $7.8 million to the Health Department represents a 24
percent increase in substance-abuse funding.

"What a great day," Health Department Secretary Alex Valdez said Thursday
after the governor signed the treatment bill. "I think that treatment bill
is really going to have a positive impact statewide."

The Health Department will use its regional care coordination system to
distribute the $5 million for expanded drug-treatment and harm-reduction
programs statewide, Valdez said.

Some of the funds may help expand the department's needle-exchange program
and to purchase more Narcan, an injectable antidote for heroin overdoses,
so law-enforcement officers can be trained on its use, Valdez said.