The town of taos proposes to expand and enhance the taos law enforcement assisted diversion program to serve the entire eighth judicial district

This Project Grant award of $999,993, provided by the Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and other Substances Use Program (CFDA 16.838), will enable the Town of Taos to expand and enhance its Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program across the Eighth Judicial District in New Mexico. Key activities include expanding LEAD services, establishing prescription drug take-back programs, providing transitional/recovery housing and support services, referring individuals to evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, and distributing naloxone to law enforcement and justice system practitioners. The project aims to reduce overdose deaths, decrease use of emergency services, and lower recidivism rates in the region by delivering comprehensive, trauma-informed services to individuals with substance use disorders who have committed low-level, nonviolent offenses. The Town of Taos will delegate program implementation to the subrecipient Dreamtree Project, Inc., which currently hosts the LEAD initiative. The award period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

The purpose is to expand a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, and trauma-informed law enforcement-led program for individuals dealing with substance use disorder (SUD) in the rural frontier area composed of colfax, taos, and union counties. Project activities include law enforcement assisted diversion; identifiable and accessible prescription take-back programs; transitional or recovery housing and recovery support services; referral to evidence-based SUD treatment; naloxone for law enforcement and other justice system practitioners; and supporting the multidisciplinary policy coordinating group to address the issues that arise due to use to illicit opioids, stimulants, and other substances. Expected outcomes include reduction in the number of overdose deaths; reduction in use of first responder and emergency services; provision of evidence-based services including intensive case management; reduction of recidivism in the eighth judicial district; and regular program assessments. Individuals with SUD who are committing low-level, nonviolent offenses are the intended beneficiaries. The town of taos intends to delegate program implementation to subrecipient dreamtree project, INC., which hosts the current program.