Blind Drunk

Alcohol is killing New Mexicans at a higher rate than anywhere else in the country — yet the state has largely neglected the growing crisis.

In this multipart series, New Mexico In Depth investigates the state’s blind spots and shines a light on solutions.

By Ted Alcorn, New Mexico In Depth
PART 1
AN EMERGENCY HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
Drinking kills New Mexicans at a far higher rate than anywhere else in the nation, and the crisis is escalating.
PART 2
EYES ON THE ROAD
In New Mexico’s war on DWI, the relentless focus on drunk drivers misses the bigger problem of addiction.
PART 3
A MISSING INGREDIENT
As violence in New Mexico spikes, state leaders overlook alcohol’s integral role.
PART 4
POISONOUS MYTHS
Stereotypes about alcohol and Native people are hiding a crisis that’s bigger than any single group.
PART 5
EVERY DOOR IS THE RIGHT DOOR
Alcohol dependence is New Mexico’s biggest untreated substance use problem. Doctors can do more to treat it.
PART 6
PAYING THE TAB
Scientists say policies can help the state cut excess drinking, but lawmakers listen to alcohol interests instead.
PART 7
A SOBER APPRAISAL
Reducing New Mexico's extraordinary alcohol death rate will require a whole-of-society approach.
ALCOHOL AND YOUR HEALTH
When it comes to drinking, how much is too much?
RESOURCES FOR REPORTERS
Alcohol hasn’t received the attention it deserves. Here are tools to report on it, whether your beat is health, crime, business, or politics.

Additional reporting

LAWMAKERS AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS CALL FOR STATE TASK FORCE ON ALCOHOL  (Aug. 26, 2022)

LAWMAKERS SAY ALCOHOL ON 2023 SESSION AGENDA (Sep. 14, 2022)

LEGISLATORS CONSIDER KEY QUESTIONS ON ALCOHOL TAX REFORMS (Oct. 2, 2022)

ALCOHOL TAXES ACROSS COUNTRY ARE “VERY, VERY LOW” (Oct. 7, 2022)

POLITICS TRUMPS HEALTH (Nov. 20, 2022)

DEATHS DUE TO DRINKING ROSE SHARPLY IN 2021 (Dec. 10, 2022)

PROPOSED OFFICE OF ALCOHOL PREVENTION STEPS UP AMBITION, BUT IS SHORT ON VISION (Jan. 26, 2022)

LAWMAKERS TACKLE RAISING THE ALCOHOL TAX (Feb. 9, 2023)

DO ALCOHOL TAXES HURT POOR PEOPLE? (Feb. 22, 2023)

POWERHOUSE LOBBYISTS ON TAP FOR ALCOHOL INDUSTRY (Mar. 4, 2023)

HOUSE COMMITTEE CUTS PROPOSED ALCOHOL TAX INCREASES (Mar. 6, 2023)

SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES NICKEL-PER-DRINK INCREASE IN ALCOHOL TAXES (Mar. 15, 2023)

LAWMAKERS WATER DOWN ALCOHOL PROPOSALS AMID PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS (Mar. 18, 2023)

HOW A 25¢-PER-DRINK ALCOHOL TAX FELL APART (Mar. 31, 2023)

LUJAN GRISHAM AXES TAX INCREASE ON BOOZE (Apr. 8, 2023)

Versions of this series appear in print in The Santa Fe New Mexican, The Las Cruces Sun News, The Gallup Independent, and other newspapers across New Mexico.

Help New Mexico In Depth better understand alcohol’s role in the state by sharing your story with alcohol.

Credits

Reporting: Ted Alcorn / Photos: Adria Malcolm, Marjorie Childress, Tara Armijo-Prewitt / Videos: Marjorie Childress, Tara Armijo-Prewitt / Illustrations: Shelby Criswell / Development: Joseph Bergen / Editing: Marjorie Childress and Trip Jennings / Cartography: Chris Girlamo

Funders

This reporting was made possible by grants from the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, the McCune Charitable Foundation, the Con Alma Health Foundation, and the Association of Health Care Journalists as supported by The Commonwealth Fund.

Resource: PDF version of article 7, A Sober Appraisal, which can be used as a solutions handout.