After two years of intense work by local legislators, the $11.55 million project is only a year away from opening its doors and offering help to those suffering from addiction. The center, which will be open for all of New Mexico, will be located on Morris Road off N.M. 314, across from the Valencia County Judicial Complex.

All those on hand praised the three local legislators, Sen. Michael Sanchez and representatives Elias Barela and Andrew Barreras, for their perseverance and persistence in getting the funding secured for the planning, designing, furnishing and construction of the center.

Gov. Bill Richardson called Sanchez a "tireless advocate" for the project.

"We can't just incarcerate people," Richardson said. "We have to provide treatment and education. This will be a state-of-the-art treatment facility available for all those who qualify."

The facility will be open to anyone seeking treatment, and the services provided will be paid with Medicaid and existing general fund substance abuse treatment dollars.

The governor said the facility and its programs would be the most innovative in the country, and said he hoped it would serve as a model.

"Substance abuse, as well as domestic violence, have been buried issues for many years," he said. "Addiction erodes the families and community and leads to the road to poverty. This project is going forward and it is going to happen."

The first phase of the project is an intensive outpatient service, which lets people receive treatment and still go home to their families and keep their jobs, Richardson said. Included in the first phase is a training center that will be used to conduct training for up to 1,200 law enforcement, judicial system and behavioral health providers annually.

The second phase is the women's residential treatment service component that will have 16 beds for women in treatment, and space for up to 24 children.

Lt. Governor Diane Denish noted that adolescents are a very vulnerable age group where substance abuse is concerned.

"It is sometimes a cycle within a family. I come from a family with adult alcohol abuse," Denish said. "I understand the challenges of addressing these problems."

Partners in Wellness, a non-profit group, will be managing and operating the center. The group is already providing community-based outpatient treatment and linkage to services in Valencia County through the Human Services' Income Support Division office, located at 445 Camino Del Rey, Suite B in Los Lunas. Partners in Wellness can be reached at (505) 222-0884.

As Sanchez took the podium, he thanked Barela and Barreras for "working hard to make sure this happened. It does mean a great deal to me."

As a child, Sanchez saw the devastation of addiction and domestic violence as it impacted three childhood friends after a their father killed their mother and then took his own life.

"For them, there was no escaping the path of addiction," Sanchez said. "And there was nothing we could do to help these people. It was devastating to me we couldn't do anything to help them."

Touching on the central location of Valencia County and the new center, Sanchez said, "We are the hub and all roads lead to us eventually. I can't say thank you enough to the governor and the legislature for making sure the money was available when we had it.

"Let's keep doing this," Sanchez said. "We can beat it."

Barela said Sanchez's passion for this project has completely change the conversation in the legislature on treatment and prevention of substance abuse.

"I know there is not a single family that hasn't been touched by substance abuse," Barela said. "Families will look me in the eye and ask, 'Is there anything at the end of this road besides incarceration or continuing the cycle?'"

Saying he was very proud to be a part of sponsoring the legislation for the funding, Barreras said he was proud of New Mexico for thinking of the future.

"We all have the need to help our families in our state," he said. "I am very proud this is in Valencia County. Helping New Mexico citizens, that is what it's all about."

Members of the local Mothers Against Methamphetamine chapter, TOSS Meth, Stacy Johnston and Patty Gutierrez, were both on hand to witness the official ground breaking. After the ceremony, Sanchez presented them with his commemorative hard hat and golden shovel.

"There are a lot of good people here, a lot of healers," Johnston said. "This is a chance for this valley to heal. I have to thank the governor for making sure the money was there, and Sen. Sanchez for not giving up."

Calling the facility a great thing, Gutierrez said it was all worth the effort if they were able to help even one person.

"That's how you do it," Gutierrez said. "One person at a time."