Medication-Assisted Treatment in New Mexico

Addiction in New Mexico is something many families live with every day. Whether it’s a loved one struggling with fentanyl, someone quietly using meth to cope with trauma, or a neighbor who overdoses before help can reach them, the crisis hits close to home.

Between December 2023 and December 2024, the state reported 765 drug overdose deaths. This crisis is driven by a combination of factors: widespread fentanyl use, co-occurring methamphetamine addiction, and gaps in access to care.

What makes the situation more urgent is geography. Much of New Mexico is rural, and some residents live hours from the nearest treatment facility. Even when someone is ready for help, many counties don’t have enough providers trained in addiction medicine.

That’s where virtual treatment can make all the difference. From anywhere, you can speak with someone who understands, without judgment, who can help you start reclaiming your life.

State leaders, health systems, and advocacy groups are pushing forward on several fronts to make treatment more available and inclusive.

In 2023, New Mexico took a major step forward with a new law, Senate Bill 425, requiring state prisons to offer addiction treatment, including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), to people who are incarcerated. It’s a recognition that substance use disorders are chronic health conditions, not moral failings, and that treating them reduces not only suffering, but also relapse and repeat incarceration.

Initiatives like the University of New Mexico’s jail diversion services connect people with behavioral health care as an alternative to incarceration. This model helps guide more people toward long-term recovery.

Moreover, programs like the Addiction and Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center offer comprehensive outpatient services, including Medication-Assisted Treatment, counseling, and support for co-occurring mental health conditions.

On top of this, the state continues to grow its telehealth infrastructure, expand provider training through Project ECHO, and support public health efforts aimed at overdose prevention, making addiction treatment more accessible than ever before.

How our virtual MAT helps bring care to New Mexico

At QuickMD, we meet people where they are, offering Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) through virtual visits that prioritize privacy, flexibility, and real connection with providers who understand addiction care.

Our MAT program allows you to speak with a licensed provider from your home, car, or anywhere you feel safe. Appointments are available seven days a week, with same-day options, so patients can get started when they’re ready, not weeks later, when motivation may have faded or withdrawal has set in.

And this care doesn’t end after one visit. Our providers work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan, and they stay with you throughout your recovery. We check in, we adjust your plan if needed, and we make sure you’re not doing this alone. Whether you’re in Las Cruces, Española, or a rural village off the main highway, we’re here to offer consistent, judgment-free support on your terms, because recovery should be possible wherever you live.

1. Stay curious about your recovery

Try approaching recovery as something you’re learning about, not something you’re expected to master right away. Staying curious helps you ask questions, notice patterns, and make choices that actually work for you.

2. Set boundaries with people who make recovery harder

You don’t have to cut everyone off, but you do have the right to protect yourself. If certain people, places, or conversations put your recovery at risk, it’s okay to take a step back while you focus on healing.

3. Notice what’s working and do more of it

Recovery isn’t only about stopping harmful patterns. It’s also about growing helpful ones. If something lifts your mood, makes you feel grounded, or helps you stay committed, find ways to repeat it.

4. Talk to yourself like you would a friend

You wouldn’t shame a friend for struggling. You’d listen, encourage, and remind them they’re doing their best. Try offering yourself that same compassion, especially on tough days.