The City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County are joining forces to combat the ongoing opioid crisis with a $4 million investment aimed at strengthening local behavioral health services.
The two jurisdictions announced Wednesday that they are making opioid settlement funds available to small and medium-sized providers that deliver treatment, harm reduction and recovery services throughout the region. Through a joint Request for Proposals (RFP), local organizations with annual operating budgets of $2 million or less can apply for funding to sustain and expand their critical work.
“Each dollar allocated is designed to help providers sustain and grow their services for our community,” said Gilbert Ramirez, Director of Health, Housing and Homelessness. “There are exceptional agencies in our community offering treatment and care to combat the opioid crisis, and we look forward to getting these vital dollars out the door.”
The funding represents part of New Mexico’s share of national opioid settlement funds, which resulted from legal action against pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors held responsible for fueling the epidemic. The state is expected to receive approximately $150 million in settlement funds distributed to local governments over an 18-year period.
“Through this critical funding, we’re making sure people from all walks of life have access to care,” Mayor Tim Keller said. “Together, we’re building a system of care that uplifts people and provides pathways to long-term recovery.”
The collaborative approach builds on work that began in 2024, when the city and county partnered to develop a joint strategic plan for utilizing the settlement funds. The process included extensive community engagement to ensure the funding addresses local needs and priorities.
“BernCo is proud to join the City of Albuquerque in launching this next phase of investment,” said Wayne Lindstrom, Deputy County Manager for Behavioral Health. “This funding opportunity reflects our shared commitment to transparency, equity, and community input—and to improving the behavioral health infrastructure for everyone in our region.”
Behavioral health providers interested in applying for the funding must submit their proposals by August 7, 2025. The complete Request for Proposals is available at https://bernco.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/190816.
The initiative comes as communities across the nation continue to grapple with the devastating effects of the opioid crisis, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and strained healthcare systems nationwide. Local officials hope the targeted investment will help fill gaps in services and expand access to evidence-based treatment options.