New Mexico Ranks First in WalletHub Study for Largest Drug Problem in the Nation

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – A WalletHub study ranked New Mexico first among the states with the largest drug problem in the nation.

The state leads the list with the highest number of drug use and addictions, followed by West Virginia and Washington DC.

At the national level, 103,500 overdose deaths were reported over a 12-month period ending November 2022, of which 1,002 were in New Mexico. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explained that the information is “underreported due to incomplete data.”

Likewise, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New Mexico ranks third nationwide among the states with the highest consumption of fentanyl, a drug that along with methamphetamine and other opioids they are the main threat in Albuquerque.

That’s why the DEA launched the program “Operation Engage”a comprehensive community approach, with the purpose of addressing the drug epidemic through prevention strategies, facilitating conversations and collaborating with local partners.

There, the agency offers resources for youth and adults to treat addictions, raise awareness about drug use and events to connect with others with similar interests or who are going through the same thing.