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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2001

Rampant drug use in Rio Arriba County in northern New Mexico is tied to historical injustices and worsens as more land is lost, a local official believes.

The disintegration of the region's traditional agricultural economy contributes to drug abuse, said Lauren Reichelt, director of the Rio Arriba Department of Health and Human Services. In a report, she says the loss of land has caused many changes in the cultural, social and economic structure, all leading to increaed substance problems.

The county is often described as the black-tar heroin capital of the nation, as it has the highest rate of heroin related deaths. The county is largely Hispanic and Native American, home to several Pueblos and the Jicarilla Apache Nation.

Get the Story:
Report attempts to dissect Rio Arriba County's drug problems by looking at cultural changes (The Santa Fe New Mexican 10/25)

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