By Jim Hilley
According to the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), despite a 21% drop in alcohol-related deaths statewide from 2021 to 2024, new data shows a 2.6% rise in alcohol-related deaths in New Mexico between 2024 and 2025.
However, according to NMDOH data, alcohol-related deaths in Chaves County did not follow the statewide trend. Chaves County saw the number of alcohol-related deaths drop from 82.9 per 100,000 in 2024 to 63.6 per 100,000 in 2025, with the raw number of deaths dropping from 57 in 2024 to 44 in 2025. In prior years Chaves County experienced rates as high as 86.8 per 100,000 in 2021, with lower rates of 73.7 in 2022 and 70.1 in 2023.
The high numbers for Chaves County in 2024 may have been influenced by the flood in October of 2024.
“There was such a mental health impact from the flood; so many people were displaced, even in Dexter,” Kerry Moore, director of the Chaves County Health Council, said of the high rate in 2024. “With many of those displaced people experiencing PTSD, alcohol may have been their coping mechanism, and that may have contributed to it.”
The news comes as NMDOH supports residents committing to Sober October, the ongoing initiative that urges people to abstain from alcohol for the month to reset habits, strengthen wellness and rethink their relationship with drinking.
“Though the decreasing trend in alcohol-related deaths since 2021 is good news, the recent uptick is a reminder alcohol use remains a health concern,” said Rebecca Neudecker, section manager for the NMDOH Office of Alcohol Misuse Prevention. “Studies show alcohol use can be tied to such health issues as heart disease, cancer and liver malfunction.”
NMDOH Public Information Officer David Morgan provided information that said alcohol-related deaths are categorized into two groups: deaths due to chronic causes and deaths due to acute causes. Alcohol-related chronic causes include conditions such as alcohol-related liver disease, cancer and hypertension. Alcohol-related acute causes include injuries and accidents like falls, drownings and alcohol-involved motor vehicle accidents.
In New Mexico, most alcohol-related deaths are due to chronic causes, according to NMDOH. In 2024, the alcohol-related chronic cause death rate was 48.1 deaths per 100,000 population, while the alcohol-related acute cause death rate was 28.8 deaths per 100,000 population.
Among other initiatives to reduce alcohol-related deaths, NMDOH has been working with local communities to increase culturally-based education and prevention. NMDOH has also launched a campaign, “Drink Less, Live More,” to highlight the benefits of cutting back on alcohol. The campaign offers evidence-based tools, self-check guides, daily drink trackers and community support materials to help individuals make informed choices about their alcohol use.
According to the NMDOH, health benefits from cutting back on alcohol use include a reduced risk of cancer, better sleep quality, weight loss, improved liver function and improved digestion. Cutting back on alcohol also saves money, the department stated.
NMDOH stated, “If you would like help addressing your use of alcohol, talk with your primary health provider about treatment options, including medications for alcohol use disorder.”
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