Taos County Medical Detox Center Reopens After a Decade

Taos County is set to reopen its only medical detox facility next month. It marks the first time residents will have local access to supervised withdrawal care since the Town of Taos shuttered the center in 2015.

The reopening comes as the rural New Mexico county grapples with a staggering 340% rise in overdose deaths during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

“We want to make a change. We want to make a difference. Nobody needs to die of substance abuse,” said Brent Jaramillo, Taos County Manager.

Why Medical Detox Matters in Rural Communities

For rural counties like Taos access to medical detox is not simply a convenience, it can be the difference between life and death.

Withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines and opioids can trigger life-threatening complications including seizures, cardiac events and severe respiratory depression.

Without clinical monitoring and medication support, individuals attempting to stop on their own face serious, preventable risks.

Rio Grande Alcohol Treatment Program (ATP), the county’s partner in the reopening, has spent years working to resurrect the former facility with extensive remodeling.

Lawrence Medina, Executive Director of Rio Grande ATP, described the center as a critical gateway: “This is the point of entry where individuals can start not only their treatment but their recovery pathway.”

Having a detox center within an hour’s drive of home, rather than hours away in Albuquerque or beyond, removes one of the most common barriers to seeking care: distance.

The Facility and What It Will Offer

The first phase of the Taos County detox center opens in April with 12 beds, with plans to expand capacity to 24 beds in subsequent phases.

Rio Grande ATP will oversee clinical operations, providing medically supervised withdrawal management for residents struggling with alcohol, opioid and other substance dependencies.

Jaramillo emphasized the breadth of need: “Our community suffers from substance use disorder in many different fashions, from alcohol to drug abuse. To be able to provide a method to reduce the recidivism rate is very important.”

A Mobile Crisis Team Expands the Safety Net

In addition to the detox center, Rio Grande ATP is launching a mobile crisis team later this month to address rising suicide rates in Taos County. The team will focus efforts at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, the site of seven suicides in the past year alone.

This dual approach, stabilizing individuals in withdrawal while reaching those in acute mental health crisis, reflects a more integrated model of behavioral health response.

Finding Medical Detox in New Mexico

For Taos County residents and others in northern New Mexico, the reopening of this facility represents a critical local resource.

If you or someone you know is dependent on alcohol, opioids or benzodiazepines, medically supervised detox is the safest and most effective first step toward recovery.

Never attempt to stop alcohol or benzodiazepine use abruptly without medical guidance. Withdrawal from these substances can cause seizures and be fatal. Search detox.com’s list of treatment centers to find a detox facility near you or call 800-996-6135(Sponsored) for immediate support.