New Mexico is a southern US state noted for its unique culture, natural beauty, and rich history. However, it has a dark side because it contains some of the most violent cities in the country. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, New Mexico had the country’s second-highest violent crime rate in 2020, with 1,024.8 events per 100,000 people.
Albuquerque is New Mexico’s most violent and dangerous city. Albuquerque, the state’s largest and most populated city, has been dubbed the murder capital of New Mexico after recording the most killings in 2020.
The Albuquerque Police Department reported 114 killings last year, up from 82 in 2019. This amounts to a murder rate of 16.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, more than four times higher than the national average of 3.8.
What Are the Underlying Causes of Violence in Albuquerque?
Many causes contribute to Albuquerque’s high incidence of violence, including poverty, narcotics, gangs, weapons, and mental health difficulties. According to the United States Census Bureau, Albuquerque’s poverty rate was 18.1% in 2019, higher than the state average of 16.8% and the national average of 10.5%.
Poverty is frequently coupled with a lack of education, unemployment, homelessness, and limited access to social services, which can lead to dissatisfaction, pessimism, and desperation among inhabitants.
Another major source of violence in Albuquerque is the drug problem, namely the opioid crisis. New Mexico has one of the worst drug overdose fatality rates in the US, with 27.7 per 100,000 people in 2019. Opioids, including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription medications, were responsible for 75% of the deaths.
Drug addiction and misuse may fuel criminal behavior, including theft, robbery, and trafficking, as well as violence between users and sellers. Albuquerque is also a drug trafficking hotspot since it is located on the Interstate 25 and Interstate 40 corridors, which connect major cities in the United States with Mexico5.
Gangs are another cause of violence in Albuquerque, as they engage in territorial battles, rivalries, and vendettas. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the city has over 100 gangs, with an estimated 5,000 members. Some of the most notable gangs include the Sureños, Norteños, Aryan Brotherhood, and Burqueños. Gangs frequently use weapons to resolve disputes and intimidate competitors, resulting in innocent bystanders being caught in the crossfire.
Guns are also a factor contributing to Albuquerque’s high homicide rate since they are easily accessible and commonly utilized. According to the Gun Violence Archive, New Mexico saw 1,038 episodes of gun violence in 2020, resulting in 317 deaths and 507 injuries. Of those occurrences, 467 took place in Albuquerque, resulting in 138 deaths and 250 injuries. New Mexico’s gun regulations are rather liberal, with no background checks required for private purchases, concealed carry licenses or weapon registration.
Another source of violence in Albuquerque is mental health difficulties, which can affect people’s judgment, impulse control, and emotional management. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, New Mexico had the nation’s highest rate of adults with severe mental illness in 2019, accounting for 6.4% of the population.
However, the state has one of the lowest rates of mental health care access, with just 43.8% of persons with severe mental illness obtaining treatment. Mental health issues can raise the risk of suicide, self-harm, and aggression toward others, particularly when mixed with substance misuse, trauma, or stress.
What Are the Solutions for Reducing Violence in Albuquerque?
There is no simple or quick answer to reducing violence in Albuquerque, since it necessitates a comprehensive and coordinated effort that tackles both the underlying causes and repercussions of the problem. However, some of the potential remedies include:
Improving inhabitants’ economic and social situations by increasing access to education, work, housing, and health care, as well as eliminating poverty and inequality. Improving drug addiction and abuse prevention and treatment, such as increasing access to medication-assisted therapy, naloxone, and syringe exchange programs, while also clamping down on drug trafficking and distribution.
Strengthening the law enforcement and criminal justice systems by expanding the number and training of police officers, detectives, and prosecutors, as well as strengthening coordination and communication across various agencies and jurisdictions.
Implementing more effective and sensible gun legislation, such as implementing background checks for all gun transactions, prohibiting assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and mandating safe storage and reporting of lost or stolen firearms.
Increasing mental health service awareness and availability, such as by increasing money, staffing, and facilities, as well as encouraging early intervention, screening, and referral for those at risk of mental illness or violence.
Conclusion
In summary, Albuquerque, New Mexico, presents a huge challenge due to high violence rates caused by variables such as poverty, drug problems, gang activity, easy access to firearms, and mental health difficulties.
Addressing these issues necessitates a broad approach that includes social and economic reforms, comprehensive drug prevention and treatment initiatives, law enforcement strengthening, rational firearms regulation, as well as greater mental health care and awareness. A collaborative effort is required to tackle the fundamental causes and repercussions of violence in the city.