Taos agencies respond to surge in overdose deaths

A sharp rise in overdose deaths across Taos County and Northern New Mexico has prompted a coordinated push among local behavioral health agencies and nonprofits.

In the first half of 2025, overdose deaths increased in Taos County by 340 percent, in Rio Arriba County by 48 percent and in Santa Fe County by 104 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. Emergency department visits for overdoses climbed at similar rates.

“I wouldn’t say it’s exponential, but it’s definitely a spike the epidemiologist identified,” said Andrew Knox, NMDOH opioid response program manager. “Numbers went down, then when they went up, it looked like they went up even more because of the first dip. But it’s an upward trajectory.”

DreamTree Project staff received harm reduction training from the New Mexico Department of Health’s Harm Reduction Section at the NEST shelter in November 2025. Image courtesy of Taos News.