Drug Overdose Prevention Legislation Heads to the House Floor

(Santa Fe) — Legislation promoting drug treatment and overdose prevention passed the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee unanimously yesterday. Sponsored by Representative Sandra Jeff (D-Crownpoint), House Memorial 38 remembers Amber Archibeque, a young woman who tragically died of a drug-related overdose just hours following her release from jail last December. Amber had a history of drug addiction but was dropped off in downtown Albuquerque by a jail bus at 2:00AM following a five-month jail stay. HM38 now heads to the House Floor.

The Memorial calls for increased partnership between public health officials and country detention centers to ensure people with a history of drug addiction get access to overdose prevention information, naloxone (a medication that reverses opioid overdoses) and substance abuse treatment. “We must ensure that public health and drug treatment services are available for people with drug addictions in jail,” said Representative Jeff, “If we work together, we can prevent more deaths in our communities.”

“It makes no sense for any detainees to be dropped off like Amber was, in the middle of the night, with no support, telephone, or transportation, especially if they have a history of addiction and very vulnerable,” said Mr. Gil Archibeque, grandfather of Amber, “We need some assurance that all are treated with respect and human dignity. What we need is a law that assures treatment for all those who are incarcerated with a history of drug abuse.” The Memorial also calls for all jail detainees to be released in safe locations, during daylight hours, with adequate access to transportation and telephone.

“New Mexico is already seen as a leader for our statewide overdose prevention policies such as distribution of naloxone and the 2007 911 Good Samaritan Act,” said Reena Szczepanski, director of Drug Policy Alliance New Mexico. “These policies are a step in the right direction, but we must do more to prevent this needless loss of life.”

On Monday, March 9, Kalpulli Izkalli and Young Women United will hold a Prayer Vigil and Call to Action in Support of HM 38. “We continue to celebrate the life of Amber A. Archibeque and to acknowledge the circumstances that brought her precious life at the age of 22 and the lives of so many of our people, to an abrupt end,” said Sylvia Ledesma, Director of Kalpulli Izkalli. The Prayer Vigil will begin at 5:00 pm-7:00 pm at Robinson Park (at the downtown round-about).