Athena R. Huckaby, MPH

11/10/2025

Ever seen "The Last Narc" on Amazon Prime? It’s about DEA agent Kiki Camarena, who was kidnapped, tortured, and killed in 1985.

Now evidence show the CIA was present during his questioning and torture. We already know the agency has trafficked crack, he**in, and ma*****na to fund covert, unsanctioned wars.

This is history, and context for how U.S. drug policy has evolved and who’s benefited from it and continues to benefit.

If you’re curious, watch The Last Narc and check out The Politics of He**in by Alfred McCoy.

Be safe out there!

**in

11/07/2025

*raises hand*

Contact me if naloxone is needed!

11/07/2025

Who's my ice skating date?? 👀

11/06/2025

Never mind that the judge wouldn't recommend AOT (Assisted Outpatient Treatment, a program also referred to as "civil commitment," administered by Doña Ana County Health & Human Services and held at La Clinica De Familia). The AOT program is not even taking new referrals right now, and as far as I am aware, still doesn't even have a psychiatrist. So we have a judge that won't refer to a program that can't take referrals right now, anyway! The gaps are enormous and the whole community suffers.

11/05/2025

Delighted to be serving as the Chair of the Las Cruces Su***de Prevention Task Force and using that platform to raise awareness about the links between substance use disorders and suicidality. Join us for International Survivors of Su***de Loss Day on November 22nd from 9:30am to 2pm at Morningstar United Methodist Church in Las Cruces. You are not alone.

Community Partner Spotlight: Las Cruces Su***de Prevention Task Force

The Su***de Prevention Task Force's primary focus is to raise awareness, educate, train and support the community by developing and sustaining partnerships, providing technical assistance, and contributing to policy and legislative initiatives related to su***de prevention. To learn more, visit www.lcsu***deprevention.com.

11/05/2025

Naloxone training coming up in Alamogordo!

11/05/2025

Community Drumming Ceremony coming up at Casa de Mi Alma!

Gather, breathe, and drum together. 🪶💚

Join us this Wednesday, November 5th, at Casa De Mi Alma for our next Community Drumming Ceremony — an evening of rhythm, reflection, and renewal.

As the seasons shift and the holidays draw near, we’ll come together to ground, connect, and share in the healing power of sound and community. Bring your favorite dish for the potluck and your full presence for the circle.🥁

📍 920 N. Alameda Blvd, Las Cruces
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM

Allow space for healing this Wednesday, we'd love to see you there! 🫶

11/05/2025

The Last Cruces Su***de Prevention Task Force is having an event for International Survivors of Su***de Support Day. We'll be holding space. We'll have cookies! Art and coloring to create. A nice way to spend a Saturday, in healing with others.

🌿 Give Yourself Space to Grieve 💙

Join us for International Survivors of Su***de Loss Day — a day when those affected by su***de loss come together for connection, understanding, and hope.

🕊️ Saturday, November 22, 2025
🕤 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Morningstar Church
2941 Morning Star Dr., Las Cruces, NM 88011

Survivor Day was created so that no one has to grieve alone. Established by Senator Harry Reid in 1999 after losing his father to su***de, this annual event is held the Saturday before Thanksgiving — a time that can be especially difficult for many loss survivors.

There is no cost to attend, and all are welcome.
Refreshments and materials will be provided.

💙 Register today: las-cruces-new-mexico.isosld.afsp.org/register/registration/form
Learn more: afsp.org/loss

***dePrevention

11/04/2025

💡 I often hear that “post-overdose isn’t the right time” to make referrals, but new research says otherwise.

A study in the International Journal of Drug Policy found that many overdose survivors WANT to be offered treatment and support immediately after overdose, even if they’re not ready to engage right away. Being offered help shows compassion, builds trust, and can plant a seed for recovery later on.

And clinically, it’s actually an ideal moment to start someone on buprenorphine! After naloxone reverses an overdose, people are in withdrawal, which means they can safely and effectively begin buprenorphine right away. That moment can change a life.

Compassionate, trauma-informed response saves lives.

Read the latest articles of International Journal of Drug Policy at ScienceDirect.com, Elsevier’s leading platform of peer-reviewed scholarly literature

11/03/2025

Understanding the Substance Use Disorder continuum of care helps providers, families, and communities see that treatment is not one thing!

It’s a system, from harm reduction and detox to residential treatment, outpatient programs, and ongoing recovery supports.
Every level matters, and people may move up or down the continuum depending on their needs.

Share this to help others understand the care system.

10/30/2025

💊 The numbers are almost hard to believe: a new study from the New York State Department of Health found that for every $1 spent on naloxone, the return on investment is $3,219.

This wasn’t an estimate or a guess. It came from a peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, which reviewed two years of data showing that naloxone reversed more than 6,500 overdoses and saved over 204,000 years of life.

For those of us working in harm reduction, these findings reflect what we already know through experience. Every kit distributed matters. Every reversal matters. Every life matters.

ALBANY, N.Y. (October 27, 2025) – The New York State Department of Health today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed study confirming that naloxone is both an evidence-based and cost-effective intervention for preventing overdose deaths. The study, published in the Journal of Public Health...