Albuquerque’s fentanyl emergency: Where things stand

An amber pill vial placed on a counter top with a pill inside. Taken on June 26 2026. News Albuquerque’s fentanyl emergency: Where things stand Nearly four weeks after Bernalillo County declared a fentanyl emergency, officials are outlining plans for coordinated services and expanded addiction treatment. Yet questions remain about funding and implementation, and one Albuquerque outreach volunteer says she has seen no noticeable changes on the streets. County commissioners unanimously approved the declaration on Oct. 14, granting County Manager Cindy Chavez emergency authority and requesting state assistance. The declaration cited approximately six opioid overdose deaths per week in the county during 2025. Ilse Biel, a volunteer who conducts direct street outreach, said she mainly works in Albuquerque’s International District and near the First Street and I-40 overpass.

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