Santa Fe Standard

A coalition of public health and safety organizations in Albuquerque has launched the "Golden Opportunity" initiative to improve opioid addiction treatment and support in the area. This program involves collaboration among several entities, including Albuquerque Community Safety, BernCo Cares Campus, Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Albuquerque Ambulance Service, Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue, Courageous Transformations, Duke City Recovery Toolbox, Casa de Salud, and the New Mexico Department of Health (NMHealth) Public Health Offices.

The initiative is designed to provide timely interventions for individuals experiencing opioid overdoses and facilitate their access to treatment resources. NMHealth Secretary Patrick Allen highlighted that "New Mexico is on track for the first year-to-year decrease in overdose deaths since 2021," adding that this collaboration offers a chance to further reduce these numbers.

Dr. Kimberly Pruett, Medical Director for Albuquerque Fire Rescue, explained that "The Golden Opportunity initiative connects emergency responders with local service providers to ensure that individuals revived from an opioid overdose have immediate access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder." This includes Suboxone (buprenorphine), followed by direct transport to treatment facilities. The approach aims to minimize repeated overdoses and ensure ongoing care.

Dr. Daniel Duhigg, Medical Director for Duke City Recovery Toolbox, emphasized the importance of offering immediate support after a near-death experience: “By offering immediate support after a near-death experience, we can help individuals who may be more open to treatment for opioid use disorder at that time."

Albuquerque Fire Rescue Chief Emily Jaramillo stated that the goal is "to provide a compassionate, community-based response to opioid addiction," ensuring people have access to necessary resources at critical moments.

For more information about this press release, contact David Barre at (505) 699-9237 (Office).