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New Mexico Using Peer Support To Take On Substance Abuse

In 2014, New Mexico had the second highest drug overdose death rate in the entire country, and New Mexico’s Department of Health recently released data that shows that overdose deaths have declined in 20 of the 33 counties in the state.

One way the state is investing in preventing overdose deaths and substance abuse is through a program that works with peer advocates who have experienced what it is like to be addicted to alcohol and other drugs.

Mark Garnand works with the Office of Peer Recovery and Engagement for the New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division. His office helps substance abusers and people dealing with mental health illnesses find the help they need.

Garnand says he is in his eleventh year of recovery from alcohol, and other drugs. He says his path to recovery wasn’t easy. Garnand says he endured a failed marriage and homelessness before he was introduced to recovery by law enforcement.

“A couple of D.U.I.’s under my belt, and I was sent off to mandatory AA meetings and mandatory counseling,” says Garnand.

It was in recovery, that Garnand connected with a counselor who was a former addict. He says it made it easier for him to share and stay sober, knowing that his counselor shared similar experiences.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlxApcV66Og&feature=youtu.be

“She was a recovering addict, and that’s a perfect example of peer-support. Even though she was a clinically trained counselor, she could still relate to me on a very basic primal level about the substances we were both using, and the experiences that we shared,” says Garnand.

Garnand says it is that shared experience that helps people in recovery start to share more and stay sober.

“The greatest thing that we have to give back to the world, is our experience,” says Garnand.

It’s that experience that may lead to more people getting help, and more lives being saved. According to the state’s department of health, 493 total drug overdose deaths were recorded in 2015. That is down from the record 540 drug overdose deaths in 2014.

Anthony Moreno serves as the Director of Content at KRWG Public Media. He also is host and executive producer for "Fronteras-A Changing America" and "Your Legislators" on KRWG-TV.