Skolnik: Reducing Alcohol-related Deaths In New Mexico – Part 2
By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock
One essential part of reducing alcohol-related deaths in New Mexico will be raising taxes on alcohol. The evidence shows that every 10% increase in alcohol taxes leads to a 7% decrease in consumption. My article of Dec. 15 (link) focused on this issue, especially in light of recent information about the apparent “sell out” of our state officials to some lobbyists on alcohol taxes.
The article also referred to using alcohol taxes to fund other measures to reduce alcohol consumption. Indeed, as a number of people kindly and correctly highlighted in response to my Read More
LAMC Giving Tree Provides Gifts To Eight Local Families
Thank you to Los Alamos Medical Center’s generous team members for their kindness and participation in making this holiday season brighter for those in need. Through this year’s Giving Tree, the hospital was able to provide gifts to eight local families. Courtesy/LAMC Read More
County’s Cory Styron Elected To GP RED Board
Community Services Director Cory Styron
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Community Services Director Cory Styron has been nominated and elected to the GP RED board, a not-for-profit consultant organization specializing in community support and improvement.
For the last three years, Styron has led the many diverse divisions within Community Services ranging from Parks and Recreation to Social Services. With this experience, as well as many years prior in parks and recreation, he will provide valuable guidance on quality-of-life improvements within communities and further support GP Read More
NMILC Files Complaint Against Cibola County Correctional Center For Pepper Spray Attack On Immigrants
NMILC News:
ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Immigrant Law Center (NMILC) filed a complaint against CoreCivic and the Cibola County Correctional Center for its recent pepper spray attack on people held in ICE detention at the facility.
On or around Nov. 18, 2023, several masked CoreCivic officials entered an ICE unit at Cibola and dispersed pepper spray gas in response to a demonstration by five individuals who were protesting inadequate food and water, and growing frustration with their delayed deportations despite having removal orders from several months prior. CoreCivic staff reportedly Read More
Skolnik: Alcohol-Related Deaths – Are New Mexican Lives Really Worth Only $115?
By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock
New Mexico’s government urgently needs to take the steps required to reduce alcohol-related deaths. In 2021, more than 2,200 New Mexicans died of alcohol-related causes. Such deaths occurred at the highest rate of any state in the US, at 34.3 per 100,000 people. These deaths come with enormous social and economic impacts on families and communities throughout New Mexico. About 1,500 of those deaths could have been avoided if New Mexico would have lowered its rate of alcohol-related deaths to the national average.
The most effective way to achieve this is well-known Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Cuts Ribbon On State-Of-The-Art Residences At New Mexico Veterans’ Home
From the Office of the Governor:
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined New Mexico veterans Thursday to cut the ribbon on new residences at the New Mexico State Veterans’ Home in Truth or Consequences, fulfilling her pledge to build new state-of-the-art facilities for those who served.
Gov. Lujan Grisham secured a $60 million investment from the Legislature during the 2022 session that enabled the construction of six residences that will provide safer, more private, and more comfortable accommodations for residents.
“New Mexico takes great pride in being home to numerous Read More
State Launches Wastewater Drug Testing Dashboard For New Mexico Public High Schools
Courtesy/NMED
NMED News:
Wednesday, the state released the first set of results of wastewater testing at public high schools on the Wastewater Drug Monitoring Dashboard.
The Department of Health directed wastewater testing for drugs be conducted at public high schools as part of a public health order to address substance misuse in the state. The Department of Health issued the public health order after Gov. Lujan Grisham declared substance misuse a public health emergency in September.
“Knowledge is power, and having more data about the presence of illicit substances in schools informs Read More
Stansbury Introduces Bill To Revitalize Nursing Workforce
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.-01) introduced Wednesday the Public Health Nursing Act in the House.
This legislation, akin to its Senate counterpart introduced by Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA), aims to address the public health crisis through revitalizing and sustaining a robust public health nursing workforce in the United States.
The legislation would be a monumental step in addressing the healthcare staffing shortage, authorizing $5 billion annually over the course of 10 years to create a grant program through the Read More
U.S. Senators Luján, Barrasso Introduce Legislation To Help Improve Efficiency Of 988 Suicide And Crisis Lifeline
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) have introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the routing of calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to local call centers.
Currently, calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline are routed to a call center based on a phone’s area code. This process can result in a call center mismatch, as over 80 percent of the calls are from cell phones that may not be in the same geographic location as their area code.
The 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2023 is a critical Read More
Business Spotlight: Michelle Wilde Of Mullein Leaf Wellness Institute
Michelle Wilde, LPCC, LMT, owner of Mullein Leaf Wellness Institute in Los Alamos. Courtesy photo
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
“Being able to be part of the healing journey with a person is truly an honor.” –Michelle Wilde
Michelle Wilde, LPCC, LMT owns Mullein Leaf Wellness Institute in Los Alamos. She is a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Body-Connection Coach and Licensed Massage Therapist, specializing in integrative, holistic care for mind & body.
She is also a certified 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work Leader, a strategic Read More
Reminder! Public Listening Session For Comprehensive Health Plan Scheduled For 6 PM Thursday Dec. 14
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Health Council reminds the public that the online public listening session for the Los Alamos County Comprehensive Health Plan is 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14.
No advance registration is needed.
For more information, visit www.lacnm.com/chp Read More
Community Invited To ‘A Light Shining In The Darkness’
By Pastor Nicolé Raddu Ferry
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
Greetings dear community of Los Alamos,
This is an invitation for you to attend or to invite a friend to spaces that may be helpful during this time of year.
In the midst of our flurry of festivities it is very easy to forget that some people have pain and depression amid the many celebrations that are happening during this time of year. Our lives do have many losses in the form of a death of a loved one, divorce, losing a job, continued struggles with health including the residual struggles with COVID and yet there is a light that shines Read More
Sen. Ben Ray Luján And Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Support Treatment Of Pregnant And Postpartum Women
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Friday, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced the bipartisan Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act to reauthorize the grant residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women (PPW) to receive residential treatment for substance use disorder.
This legislation will authorize funding to enhance comprehensive substance use disorder (SUD) treatments, prevention and recovery support, parenting Read More
Luján Expresses Disappointment After NDAA Fails To Provide Justice For New Mexicans Who Sacrificed For National Security
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report failed to include the Senate-passed Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA):
“The NDAA fails to provide justice for New Mexicans who sacrificed for our national security. Generations of New Mexicans and their families have gotten sick and died from the radiation exposure and the lasting impacts of the Trinity Test. For New Mexico to have been ground zero for the first nuclear weapon – and left out of the original Read More
Luján, Cornyn, Kaine, Shaheen, Durbin Introduce Bill To Boost Substance Use Recovery Resources And Services
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced the Strengthening Communities of Recovery Act today to reauthorize and expand resources for individuals experiencing substance use disorder.
As the United States faces a severe behavioral health crisis, exacerbated by an epidemic of substance use disorders (SUD), individuals in recovery are often struggling to reintegrate into society due to stigma, lack of support, and limited access to resources that address Read More
New Mexico Governor Renews Executive Orders Around Gun Violence, Substance Misuse
Courtesy/GVD
From the Office of the Governor:
- Renewal keeps public health orders in place
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham renewed executive orders today declaring gun violence and substance misuse public health emergencies. The governor’s multi-pronged strategy is demonstrating progress as area law enforcement agencies continue to work together to address the gun violence epidemic. The renewal extends the emergency to Dec. 29, 2023, ensuring that progress continues.
In her executive orders, Gov. Lujan Grisham ordered a coordinated response to these public health emergencies involving Read More
LAMC Lobby Shop Early Bird Sale Moved To Friday Dec. 8
De-stress December Programs At County Libraries
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos Public Library System will be hosting two workshops in December to help the community face the busy season and year-end festivities with calm and focus.
Gwen Kalavaza will lead a workshop on “Being Present” 6:30-7:30 p.m., Dec. 7 at the White Rock Branch Library. Kristine Coblentz will host an evening of “Less Stress, More Ease” ” 6:30-7:30 p.m., Dec. 14 at Mesa Public Library.
Kalavaza’s workshop, “Being Present”, will explore ways to find peace amongst the chaos and to appreciate the season. Through visualization and energy awareness, participants will become Read More
LAMC Lobby Shop To Host Early Bird Sale Dec. 1
