New Mexico launches Drink Less, Live More to curb alcohol deaths

State public health officials launched the Drink Less, Live More initiative on Jan. 7, urging New Mexicans to reduce alcohol consumption and consider participating in Dry January to "hit the reset button" on drinking habits. The move comes as New Mexico continues to lead the nation in alcohol-related mortality, with 1,756 alcohol-related deaths recorded in 2024 and alcohol accounting for roughly 9% of all hospitalizations statewide.

The campaign pairs statewide statistics with resources to help people cut back, from short-term benefits to long-term health gains. "Reducing your alcohol intake can improve sleep, boost energy, enhance mood, and promote long-term health," said Rebecca Neudecker, section manager for NMDOH’s Office of Alcohol Misuse Prevention. Public health leaders frame Dry January as an accessible starting point for New Year’s resolutions that include healthier eating and more activity. "A lot of people are setting New Year’s resolutions to eat better, get more active, and so why not add cutting out drinking to the list of things that we’re trying to change in the month of January," said Katie Witkiewitz, director for the Center on Alcohol, Substance use, And Addictions at the University of New Mexico.

For San Juan County residents, the statewide numbers translate into real pressure on local clinics, emergency rooms, and families. Alcohol-driven injuries and illnesses increase demand on staff at hospitals from Farmington to Aztec, stretch limited behavioral health services, and can deepen financial strain for households already facing inequities in access to care. The toll is starkest among younger adults: one in three deaths among New Mexicans aged 20 to 39 is linked to alcohol, a rate higher than the national average.

Public health officials say the campaign is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Materials accompanying the initiative include guidance and caution for people with heavy drinking histories, noting that abrupt cessation can be medically risky and that those individuals should seek medical supervision or treatment when planning to stop or cut back. Community-based care, stronger prevention programs, and better access to addiction treatment are central public health policy challenges underscored by the initiative.

Reducing alcohol harms will require policy attention beyond a single-month campaign: expanded treatment capacity, integration of substance use screening in primary care, and targeted outreach to young adults are among strategies experts point to for lasting change. For San Juan County, that means local health providers and leaders will need resources and coordination to translate statewide messaging into services residents can actually use.

Our two cents? Try the challenge if you can, but plan it safely. If you or someone you love drinks heavily, reach out to a primary care clinician or local behavioral health provider before stopping suddenly. Small steps can protect your health and the community, and asking for help is part of getting healthier together.