Morning Word: Teen Drug Use in New Mexico Ranks High

Teen Drug Use Still High in New Mexico

At the same time as the New Mexico Department of Health plans to shut down its teen drug detox center, a new survey shows state high schoolers have

, including the second highest cocaine and Ecstasy use; fifth highest for methamphetamine; eighth highest for heroin; and second highest for marijuana use.

Battling Addiction Isn't Easy

Intergenerational drug addiction is something officials in Española and Rio Arriba County

for years. There's been setbacks but counselors and other advocates aren't giving up despite the numbers.

Over the past five years, the county’s overdose rate was three times the statewide average, and more than five times the national rate. According to a 2013 survey of 969 Española teenagers, nearly 5 percent of high school students said they had used heroin within the last month, as opposed to 2.9 percent statewide.
More Calls to Legalize Cannabis

Of course, no one believes adolescents should be smoking cannabis or doing other drugs until their brains and lungs are fully developed, but there are more calls for legalizing cannabis in New Mexico. Albuquerque resident Kathy Sullivan writes

and create jobs, and all you have to do is look north to Colorado to see that marijuana-related crimes have decreased since that state’s voters make pot legal for adult social use.

Fiscal Policies Impact Energy-Reliant States

While cannabis legalization could boost the state coffers, it turns out New Mexico isn’t the only state forecasting

and steep declines in oil and gas revenues, not to mention ill-advised personal income tax cuts for the wealthy.

Johnson Plans Albuquerque Rally

Gary Johnson is

 at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Ahead of the event, Johnson’s

from Republicans who can’t stomach Donald Trump, including US Rep. Scott Rigell of Virginia, who won’t be coming to the Duke City for Republican Vice President Nominee Mike Pence’s

August 16.

Outgoing Spaceport Chief Lauds Accomplishments

Tired of what she deems unfair media coverage, Spaceport America CEO Christine Anderson, who is resigning after five years, penned an article

under her helm, including 28 launches and another half dozen planned in the next six months.

Budget Cuts Hit State Library Hard

Frank Norris, a historian who lives and works in Santa Fe, says

and its Southwest Collection research center in Santa Fe, which is now only open two days a week.


Golden Record

Wow. Michael Phelps

over the weekend in Rio in the 4x100 relay. During his swimming careers, Phelps has won an unprecedented 23 medals with two silvers and two bronzes filling out his tally.

Better Call a Strike

Actor Bob Odenkirk is back in Albuquerque ahead of filming “Better Call Saul” season 3. Saturday, he

. It wasn’t his best fastball, but it definitely looks like was in the strike zone. Odenkirk also led the crowd in song with “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Spoiler alert: You better cover the dog’s ears before listening to his rendition 

.

Special Field Recognition

The Sports Turf Managers Association is recognizing Isotopes director of field operations Casey Griffin and his crew with the Association's Stars and Stripes Award for the Isotopes' 

that always make Isotopes Park look as good as what you’d see major league stadiums.

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