• In 2013, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reported that 17% of patients with opioid prescriptions also had benzodiazepine prescriptions. 
• In 2015, NIDA reported that 23% of patients who died of an opioid overdose had also tested positive for benzodiazepines and that many people are prescribed both drugs simultaneously.
• Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia.  Combining benzodiazepines with other sedatives, opioids, or alcohol can cause respiratory depression and increase the risk of death. 
• In FY18 statewide, 13.1% of people (an average of 21,424 people) with opioid prescriptions also had benzodiazepine prescriptions. 
• Prescription opioids as a drug type are involved in more drug overdose deaths than any other drug-type, however in 2017, for the first time, a benzodiazepine drug (Alprazolam, brand name Xanax) was the most common prescription drug involved in overdose deaths in New Mexico. (Source: Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics death data).

• Human Services Department (HSD)
• New Mexico Board of Pharmacy (NMBOP)
• Health care professional licensing boards
• New Mexico Overdose Prevention and Pain Management Advisory Council 
• New Mexico Health Councils
• Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI)
• Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
• University of New Mexico (UNM)

• Maximizing use of the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP).
• Improving prescribing practices by discouraging combining opioids and benzodiazepines through provider education.
• Increasing public knowledge of the of risks of combining opioids and benzodiazepines and provide education on other treatment options for anxiety and insomnia.
• Increasing the number of waivered prescribers to treat opioid dependency with approved buprenorphine products for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and other treatments for substance use disorders in alignment with the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000).

• Work with partners to increase use of the PMP.
• Collect, analyze, interpret, and disseminate public health data on drug use and the related harms and on policy to address it.
• Collaborate with other areas of the NMDOH and stakeholders to implement strategies based on the scientific findings on drug use and related harms.
• Respond to inquiries on drug use and related harms from stakeholders and the general public.
• Provide technical assistance to public health partners on effective approaches for monitoring and reporting findings on drug use and related harms.
• Provide data on the number and location of MAT treatment prescribers and patients to assess the gaps in availability.

Q1:

• A NMDOH partner and Advisory Council member will produce draft benzodiazepine prescribing guidelines with input from Council members at the May 30, 2018 Council meeting. Completed - The draft benzodiazepine prescribing guideline was completed and is under review.
• Quarterly Reports (which include percent of prescriber’s patients with both opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions) for FY18 Q4 will be produced and sent to the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy for delivery to the licensing boards. Completed - FY18 Q4 report was completed and sent to NMBOP. FY19-Q1 prescribing data will be available in November 2018.

Q2:

• NMDOH will work with partners to disseminate the benzodiazepine prescribing guideline once accepted by the committee. Quarterly Reports for FY19 Q1 will be produced and sent to the Board of Pharmacy for delivery to the licensing boards.

Q3:

• Quarterly Reports for FY19-Q2 will be produced and sent to the Board of Pharmacy for delivery to the licensing boards. FY19-Q3 prescribing data will not be available until May of 2019.

Q4:

• Quarterly Reports for FY19-Q3 will be produced and sent to the Board of Pharmacy for delivery to the licensing boards. FY19-Q4 prescribing data will not be available until May of 2019.