New Mexico
CAMINOS Brings New Hope for Treating Addiction in New Mexico Hospitals
When patients are admitted to The University of New Mexico Hospital, they are usually there for something like an infection, a surgery or another medical emergency. But many of those same patients also live with substance use disorders. Until recently, that aspect of their health often went untreated during their hospital stay.
Now, a program called CAMINOS is changing that.
“We are an addiction medicine consult service,” said Sergio Huerta, MD, medical director of CAMINOS. “Anybody with an addiction in the hospital, we can see, even if it hasn’t been diagnosed yet. The whole concept is to meet people where they’re at when they’re most vulnerable and most in need.”
CAMINOS, which stands for Coordinating Addiction Medicine with Inpatient and Outpatient Services, connects patients with treatment during their hospital stay and helps them transition into ongoing care once they leave.
Huerta, who is board-certified in both addiction medicine and internal medicine, explained how the program works.
“We go talk to the patient, offer them treatment services, including medications, and refer them to treatment,” he said. “We also have a peer on our team with lived experience in recovery. Patients who are seen by peers tend to do better. They’re more adherent to their medications and treatments when they leave the hospital.”
It’s a reachable moment when patients are here. By offering treatment, we help them feel more comfortable, we help them stay and complete their care, and we give them a better chance at recovery. That’s what makes this work so meaningful.
– Sergio Huerta, MD, Medical Director, CAMINOS
For Chris Smith, MD, director of operations for CAMINOS and section chief of Hospital Medicine, the impact is evident.
“Almost every patient we see is not here primarily for their substance use disorder,” Smith said. “They’re admitted for something else. Before our service, these problems weren’t always addressed. Now, the primary team can call us to see the patient, and we can start them on treatment during their stay.”
Before CAMINOS, patients with addictions often left the hospital with little more than a referral sheet.
“There wasn’t really much help for patients with substance use disorders,” Huerta said. “We treated the admitting diagnosis, like pneumonia, and then gave them a list of resources for when they left. That really wasn’t the best way to do things.”
The stakes in New Mexico are especially high. The state has the highest alcohol-related death rate in the country and is consistently ranked among the worst for drug overdose deaths. Huerta estimates that about one in 10 New Mexicans lives with a substance use disorder.
At UNM Hospital, that means a large share of inpatients also need addiction treatment. In its first year, CAMINOS logged more than 1,200 consults, making it one of the busiest consult services at the hospital. Of those patients, more than 450 were newly started on proven medications like buprenorphine or methadone for opioid use disorder.
Substance use disorders are everywhere. No matter what you end up doing as a physician, you’re going to see patients with this. Having that background makes you a better provider.
– Chris Smith, MD, Director of Operations, CAMINOS & Section Chief, Hospital Medicine, UNM Hospital
“Even if only half of those patients continue treatment after discharge, that’s a huge success for a population that can be very difficult to engage,” Smith said.
The program’s impact is visible every day, Huerta said.
“These patients are always the most appreciative and the most thankful,” he said. “Just showing them that there’s somebody here who cares goes a really long way.”
Smith noted that patients who start treatment for addiction are less likely to leave the hospital against medical advice. They are also more likely to follow through with other treatments for conditions like diabetes, infections or chronic disease.
“It has a dramatic change on their whole hospital stay,” Smith said.
The program is also shifting how hospital staff think about addiction. Huerta shared how some clinical teams that were once hesitant to start addiction medications are now more comfortable doing so thanks to CAMINOS.
“Our goal is that the primary teams feel more comfortable identifying and treating substance use disorders,” Huerta said. “We’re beginning to change the culture.”
CAMINOS is also an educational hub. Medical students, resident physicians, and trainees in their fellowship now rotate through the service, learning to treat substance use disorders alongside experienced providers and peer support specialists.
“Substance use disorders are everywhere,” Smith said. “No matter what you end up doing as a physician, you’re going to see patients with this. Having that background makes you a better provider.”
Huerta and Smith see CAMINOS as a model for the future. They hope to expand the program to serve more patients, strengthen outpatient connections and eventually help people across the state through call-in support lines and partnerships with other hospitals.
“It’s a reachable moment when patients are here,” Huerta said. “By offering treatment, we help them feel more comfortable, we help them stay and complete their care, and we give them a better chance at recovery. That’s what makes this work so meaningful.”
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Republican candidate for governor Duke Rodriguez is suing Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham over her executive order that started universal free child care before a new law takes effect.
The governor enacted the program through executive order in November.
Lawmakers passed a universal child care law during the past session, but that law does not take effect until May 20.
Rodriguez says he objects to some of the rules and to how the governor started the program. The suit asks the Second Judicial District Court to prohibit further enforcement of any regulations tied to the program.
“You could understand an outgoing governor trying to do it for political capital, for expediency just to say, I’m first in the nation.” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez says he is confident he will win and that the rules he is challenging will be struck down.
“We also now have what we call pre emptive eligibility, which means you don’t even have to prove you’re eligible and you’re covered the moment you walk in,” Rodriguez said. “All of those things individually and collectively that have been proposed and changed probably invite fraud, waste and abuse and you know it.”
The governor’s office responds
The governor’s office sent a statement saying the program was properly implemented and that the governor is confident the lawsuit will be rejected.
A spokesperson for the governor sent KOB 4 the following statement:
“This lawsuit makes clear that Mr. Rodriguez has a fundamental misunderstanding how state government works. He states that ECECD did not have the authority to undergo rulemaking regarding universal childcare. They do. He states that ECECD did not have the funding to implement the program when they did their rulemaking. They did. That is why the program was operational in December – before the 2026 Legislative session started. Perhaps more importantly, the lawsuit ignores that the legislature passed SB 241, which codified the program and its future funding into law. The governor is confident that the courts will reject his meritless claims.“
Woody is up for adoption with the City of Albuquerque’s Animal Welfare Department. Meet him here!
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In this Love 4 Pets, we have Woody, Zwei and Kanai, who are all up for adoption at the City of Albuquerque’s shelters.
Woody is looking for a loving home after going through the ringer. He came to Albuquerque Animal Welfare about a month ago after he was hit by a car. He’s healing from some pelvic fractures and is moving slowly so he can hang out in the backyard and go for short walks.
Woody is very smart and can sleep all night. They believe he is about nine years old and is believed to be a Lab mix. He’s very sweet and is house-trained.
Woody is set to be 100% ready soon. You can meet him in the video above or at the Eastside Animal Shelter (details).
We also have Zwei and Kenai.
Zwei:
An Australian Shepherd mix, Zwei is a little tripod who is a great companion, has wonderful manners and loves to lean into you for hugs. She walks beautifully on a leash and doesn’t miss a beat, even with only three legs.
Zwei is currently in foster care. If you are interested in adopting her, contact Albuquerque Animal Welfare to set up a time to visit her.
Kenai:
Kenai is a Labrador retriever mix. He is a friendly, affectionate boy who enjoys being around people and has good manners. He walks well on a leash and is very excited about exploring the world.
Kenai loves attention, toys (especially stuffed animals) and car rides. So, if you’re looking for an adventure buddy, you can meet him at the Westside Animal Shelter (details).
Grant’s Monday Night Forecast
A few evaporating rain showers are possible again Tuesday with warmer temperatures. Windier weather later this week will bring a high fire danger back to New Mexico.
It’s been a warm day with a few isolated showers and thunderstorms across central and northern New Mexico. Some of that rain has made it to the ground, while other showers have evaporated before reaching the surface. Temperatures have climbed into the 70s and 80s for most of the state. Showers will fade after sunset, with mostly clear skies overnight and mild temperatures.
Even warmer weather is on the way Tuesday with lighter winds. More areas will reach the 80s by the afternoon. A few spotty showers will develop again, especially near the mountains, with some of that rain evaporating before reaching the ground.
Winds pick up Wednesday afternoon, with gusts between 25 and 45 mph. This will begin another stretch of high fire danger across the state. The strongest winds arrive Thursday, with westerly gusts of 35 to 55 mph. That will expand the fire danger statewide. A dry cold front will move through Thursday as well, but temperatures will only drop slightly, ending up closer to average.
Breezy conditions continue Friday through the weekend as the jet stream pulls more moisture into New Mexico. That will bring increasing chances for rain and thunderstorms this weekend, with a few lingering into early next week.
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