A widening treatment effort
New Mexico’s effort to treat substance use disorders inside its prisons has reached far more incarcerated people in its second year, state analysts told lawmakers Thursday. The program, which combines medications such as methadone or buprenorphine with counseling, is now operating in seven of the state’s eight prisons run by the Corrections Department.
The expansion comes as lawmakers examine the reach and cost of a program created for a population with a substantial need for care. A Corrections Department survey found that 36% of inmates — about 2,000 people — met the medical criteria for a substance use disorder. Of those identified, 1,407 received treatment this year, according to a presentation by Allegra Hernandez, a senior fiscal analyst with the Legislative Finance Committee.
| Measure | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Inmates identified as needing treatment | About 2,000 |
| Inmates treated this year | 1,407 |
| Patients continuing treatment in the second year | 815 |
| State prisons offering services | 7 of 8 |
| Program appropriation | Nearly $40 million |
The figures mark a considerable change from the previous year, when the finance committee reported that only 176 inmates had received medication-assisted treatment. In the program’s second year, 815 inmates continued receiving care, suggesting that the initiative is serving not only as an initial intervention but also as an ongoing treatment system within the prison setting.
Medication paired with counseling
Medication-assisted treatment, commonly referred to as MAT, uses approved medications alongside counseling to address substance use disorders. Methadone and buprenorphine were cited during the presentation as examples of medications used in the approach. Research presented to lawmakers indicates that people receiving this care are less likely to overdose, keep using opioids or have contact with the criminal justice system.
The need extends beyond opioid addiction. Nearly 24% of New Mexicans have substance use disorders, according to the legislative presentation, and more than half of those disorders involve opioids or alcohol — conditions that can be treated with medication-assisted treatment. Within the prison system, the survey’s estimate translates into a large group whose medical needs intersect with the state’s responsibilities for custody and health care.
“Corrections is doing an excellent job at rolling out the program,” Hernandez said.
Wence Asonganyi, the Corrections Department’s health services administrator, cautioned that the work has not been simple. He told members of the Legislature’s interim Health and Human Services Committee that implementing the program statewide has been “very challenging.” His comments placed the improved numbers alongside the practical difficulties of delivering specialized treatment across a prison system that is spread among multiple facilities.
Funding and access remain central questions
The Corrections Department received a nearly $40 million appropriation last year through the state’s Government Results and Opportunity program. The funding was structured to last close to three years, making the current expansion an important point for lawmakers assessing whether the state’s investment is producing the intended reach.
One challenge identified during the committee discussion was finding providers who can prescribe methadone, a controlled substance used to treat substance use disorders. The shortage of qualified prescribers can make it difficult to establish and maintain services, particularly when treatment must be coordinated across several institutions. The department’s progress from 176 people treated to 1,407 this year therefore reflects both an expansion of capacity and the continuing demands of operating the program.
- Seven state-operated prisons now offer medication-assisted treatment.
- 1,407 inmates identified as needing care received treatment this year.
- 815 inmates remained in treatment during the program’s second year.
- Provider availability, including prescribers authorized to provide methadone, remains a challenge.
The committee hearing offered no indication that the work is complete. About one-quarter of the state-operated prisons still does not provide the service, based on the presentation’s count of seven out of eight facilities. And the difference between the roughly 2,000 inmates identified as needing care and the 1,407 who received it shows that the program has not yet reached everyone who meets the department’s medical criteria.
Still, the trend is unmistakable: Treatment behind prison walls has moved from a limited offering to a more established part of New Mexico’s corrections health system. The state’s next test will be sustaining that reach, addressing the prescriber shortage and determining how effectively the program can serve those who remain outside its current coverage. For lawmakers, the numbers present a measure of progress — and a reminder that public health policy does not stop at the prison gate.
