Activity Highlight
- Date: August 2026
- Service Area: Valencia County
- Purpose: Reduce financial barriers to school activities while expanding opioid prevention education and community awareness
- Key Features:
- Partnership with Belen Consolidated Schools and Los Lunas Schools
- Free admission to high school and middle school athletic events
- ORCNM support for admission costs using opioid settlement funds
- Age-appropriate opioid prevention education incorporated into school events
- Expanded opportunities for families to participate in school and community activities
Overview
In August 2026, the Opioid Remediation Collaborative of New Mexico (ORCNM) partnered with Belen Consolidated Schools and Los Lunas Schools to provide free admission to high school and middle school athletic events throughout the 2026–2027 school year. The initiative removes a financial barrier for local families while creating new opportunities to strengthen community connections and promote opioid prevention awareness.
Through the partnership, ORCNM will support admission costs using funds received through national opioid litigation settlements. Participating school districts will incorporate age-appropriate prevention education and awareness activities into athletic events, helping reach students, parents, and other community members in familiar and engaging settings.
The initiative is designed to make prevention messaging approachable and relevant while allowing families to participate in school activities without the added cost of admission. By bringing education into spaces where young people and families already gather, ORCNM and its school partners can broaden the reach of prevention efforts throughout Valencia County.
This partnership reflects a shared commitment between ORCNM, Belen Consolidated Schools, and Los Lunas Schools to remove barriers to community participation, support local families, and strengthen prevention efforts for youth across the county.