New Mexico County Defends Slow Opioid Settlement Spending as Capacity-Building
Doña Ana County's opioid settlement project manager responded to a New Mexico State Auditor report finding that nearly half of counties and municipalities reported no spending from the state's nearly $1 billion opioid settlement fund through June 2025. The county defended its approach, stating that it prioritized establishing governance structures, stakeholder engagement, and coordinated planning before deploying funds. The manager noted challenges including provider shortages in rural areas and the need to align settlement dollars with other funding sources including Medicaid and New Mexico's Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act. The county created a joint advisory council with the City of Las Cruces to coordinate behavioral health investments across jurisdictions.