How Las Cruces could spend $9.8 million from opioid settlement

The Las Cruces City Council received an update on two proposed plans from Las Cruces City staff, which included a proposal on how to spend $9.8 million in opioid settlement funds.

During the June 23 word session, Las Cruces Chief Administrative Officer Barbara Bencomo listed eight goals for the funds. Those goals include improving access to naloxone, implementing universal screening for opioid use disorder, and preventing opioid use disorder in youth.

In 2021, many states and local governments reached a settlement with major drug manufacturers and distributers over damage that the opioid crisis has caused. In that settlement, companies involved in the drug industry agreed to pay an estimated $50 billion to cities and states. Las Cruces will receive an estimated $9.8 million.

To help use these funds more efficiently, the city council and Doña Ana County created the Opioid Settlement Advisory Council, which created a proposed plan listing some key areas to focus the money.

Part of that prevention would include a renewed effort to address drug use with students at school. The advisory council did not list schools as a setting for the funds because the council thought children could receive help through different avenues, Bencomo said.

“I do not want to give the impression the advisory council did not want to address youth prevention programs, but the focus of the advisory council was more in the community setting and other settings, not just primarily in schools,” Barbara Bencomo stated.

But, both the fire and police chiefs requested schools as a possible setting for youth prevention programs. Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story said the old Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE Program, had its flaws, but newer programs are worth looking into.

“We would like to look at some of these newer models that have more evidence behind them to start youth prevention again,” Story said. “Regardless of the funding source, whether it is through these funds or another pot of money starting with our community, schools are a good place to start.”

The advisory council and staff will work on finalizing the plans in July and the city council is scheduled to vote on a final plan for the opioid settlement funds in August.

In addition to discussions about the opioid settlement funds, the city council also received an update on proposed plans to revitalize the area round the El Paseo and Solano corridor.

The plan aims to inject new life and investment into this area and create a “pedestrian-friendly community” with a focus on “sustainable development and equitable growth.”

The city has held outreach events and, after listening to that community feedback, Site Southwest Community Planner Allie Caskey, whom the city has contracted with, said the biggest need is better security and to rejuvenate the area.

To do this, staff have proposed investing in more lighting and working with the police department and the Real Time Crime Center, a new high-tech LCPD response to calls. Additionally, the staff plan includes supporting businesses and aligning with the new zoning ordinance, Realize Las Cruces, to have more flexible residential development and more infill development.

The city staff’s proposed plan would also expand parks in the area.

The city will vote on the El Paseo and Solano corridor plan on July 7.