Rio Arriba County Strategy to Combat Heroin Addiction

Book excerpt: At an Espanola (New Mexico) hearing, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies of the Senate Committee on Appropriations heard testimony on heroin addiction and intervention efforts in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. An opening statement of Senator Pete Domenici outlined the problem of an epidemic of black tar heroin addiction afflicting the county, with accompanying crime and delinquency problems. A representative of the federal Office of Justice Programs (OJP) described relevant OJP initiatives, particularly Weed and Seed, which provides funding for community law enforcement, drug treatment programs, and after-school youth activities aimed at drug and delinquency prevention. Other federal officials discussed block grants and state incentive grants for drug prevention and treatment programs, the Starting Early Starting Smart program for children aged 0-7, physical and mental health problems related to drug abuse, the science of heroin addiction and treatment, and science-based drug education materials for grades 5-9. Representatives of state and local agencies discussed substance abuse-related detention costs; substance abuse, mental health, and related medical costs for local prisoners; the Rio Arriba Strategic Plan for Substance and Alcohol Abuse and Treatment; the rationale for a county-wide plan; current substance abuse reduction activities in the county; youth development as primary prevention; the high rates of drug-related death in New Mexico; the special problems of isolated rural communities; and a drug treatment program based on yoga, meditation, and nutrition. (SV)