New Mexico local governments lag in spending opioid settlement funds, new report finds

A recent report from the Office of the State Auditor reveals that 15 out of 33 New Mexico counties haven't reported any spending from their opioid settlement funds as of mid-2025. This suggests a significant delay in addressing the opioid crisis at the local government level. The settlement funds were meant to combat opioid addiction and its related harms, so this sluggish spending raises questions about how effectively local governments are tackling the ongoing opioid epidemic and the broader implications for public health funding and community well-being.