SENATE MEMORIAL 5

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Kay Papen

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING JANUARY 17, 2018 "BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, mental and substance use disorders have a powerful effect on the wellness and health of New Mexico's individuals, families and communities; and

     WHEREAS, prevention and early intervention strategies can reduce the impact of mental and substance use disorders in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, drug and alcohol use can lead to other chronic health conditions, and the benefit of investing one dollar ($1.00) for prevention programs can yield two dollars ($2.00) to ten dollars ($10.00) in savings in health costs, justice costs, educational costs, lost productivity and other economic and social costs; and

     WHEREAS, people have biological and psychological characteristics that can make them vulnerable or resilient to potential behavioral health problems; and

     WHEREAS, people live in families, schools, communities, workplaces and societies in which there are a variety of risk and protective factors; and

     WHEREAS, eight of the ten leading causes of death in New Mexico are at least partially caused by the misuse of alcohol or drugs; and

     WHEREAS, over the past thirty years, New Mexico has consistently had among the highest alcohol-related death rates in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, in 2015, New Mexico was ranked eighth in overdose deaths, with Hispanic males at the highest risk of death from drug overdoses; and

     WHEREAS, there are preventive programs in New Mexico that produce powerful results in classrooms and communities; and

     WHEREAS, the peace, productivity, health and happiness good behavior game is one such program in the federal substance abuse and mental health services administration's national registry of evidence-based programs and practices that has been welcomed in schools and communities in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's a dose of reality campaign educates teens and parents about the serious risks of addiction and overdose from prescription painkiller abuse; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's prevention programs assess needs; build capacity; and plan, implement and evaluate culturally competent prevention programs and activities; and

     WHEREAS, hope and resilience are essential for prevention of and recovery from behavioral health conditions; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's diverse community coalitions and prevention advocates throughout the state are dedicated to improving community health and minimizing the risk of substance misuse;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that January 17, 2018 be declared "Behavioral Health Day" in the senate in honor of the many people who devote themselves to public policymaking on behalf of the thousands of New Mexicans who live with behavioral health disorders; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the theme for "Behavioral Health Day" be "behavioral health in New Mexico — prevention works!"; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of human services and the director of the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative.

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