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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Martinez

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1-20-06

HB

SHORT TITLE Higher Ed Suicide & Binge-Drinking Prevention

SB 27

ANALYST Surdi

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$917.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Department of Health (DOH)

New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

New Mexico Health Policy Commission (HPC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 27 makes an appropriation to the Higher Education Department for Behavioral

Health Programs that include Suicide and Binge-Drinking among post-secondary students; ap-

propriates of $917,000 from the general fund to the Higher Education Department for expendi-

ture in FY07 and FY08 to initiate, enhance and supplement behavioral health programs on com-

munity college and university campuses to address post-secondary student behavioral health

needs, including suicide intervention and binge-drinking prevention education and services.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $917,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall revert to the gen-

eral fund.

Senate Bill 27 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

New Mexico’s suicide rate is 1.5 to 2 times the national rate, and has consistently been one of the

highest in the United States. According to the New Mexico Department of Health Epidemiology

and Response Division, Strategic Prevention Framework Epidemiology Profile (Spring, 2005),

suicide is closely associated with drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and mental health disorders.

According to a New Mexico State University (NMSU) survey, 44% of post-secondary students binge drink.

Dur-

ing the 2004-05 school year, two alcohol-poisoning deaths at NMSU highlighted the potentially

lethal impact of risky health behaviors on New Mexico college students.

On the national level, the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse indicates, youth us-

ing illicit drugs other than marijuana are more likely to commit suicide than youth who do not

use such drugs. Additional information provided by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism (NIAAA) published on the internet at

www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/fact

, that

25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinking including missing

class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower overall grades.

NIAAA indicates that the following data are drawn from the activities of college students be-

tween the ages of 18-24:

•

1,400 die annually from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor

vehicle crashes.

•

500,000 are unintentionally injured while under the influence of alcohol.

•

More than 600,000 are assaulted by other students who have been drinking.

•

More than 70,000 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.

•

400,000 had unprotected sex, and more than 100,000 report having been too

intoxicated to know if they consented to having sex.

•

More than 150,000 students develop an alcohol-related health problem and be-

tween 1.2 percent and 1.5 percent of students indicate that they tried to commit

suicide within the past year due to drinking or drug use.

•

About 5 percent of 4-year college students are involved with the police or

campus security as a result of their drinking, and an estimated 110,000 students

between the ages of 18 and 24 are arrested for an alcohol-related violation such

as public drunkenness or driving under the influence.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

Measuring the effectiveness of the intervention has not been addressed by the respondents.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The following determinations would have to be made; participating post-secondary institutions,

funding amounts, department and staff within the institution to coordinate the design, develop-

Senate Bill 27 – Page

3

ment, documentation and delivery of the appropriate educational material.

ALTERNATIVES

The Department of Higher Education could collaborate with the Department of Health, joining

financial and other resources, to develop, implement and promote suicide and binge drinking in-

terventions and services to college communities.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

The high rate of suicide and behavioral health problems has been with us for years. The problem

has not corrected itself with current intervention. However, applying additional resources to en-

hance existing programs and the creation new ones, will assist New Mexico’s young adults to

live healthier lives.

GS/yr