Athena R. Huckaby, MPH

09/22/2025

Recovery should never mean being turned away at the door.

Yet too many people using medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are denied housing. It's not because of who they are, but because of stigma about the medications they are taking to save their lives.

Safe housing is the foundation of healing. When we close the door on people in recovery, we’re closing the door on health, family, and community.

It’s time to change that. 💜

Stay tuned each Monday for more stories leading up to something big this October.

Hashtags:

09/22/2025

“Given the rising rates of drug-involved morbidity and mortality, it is high time to include people who use drugs in public health efforts,” she wrote... “Our lives depend on it.”

She was instrumental in helping promote wider use of needle exchanges, naloxone and tests to assist drug users in identifying dangerous ingredients.

09/22/2025

I have recently been giving a training that I have developed for family members and loved ones of folks with substance use disorders. It's been well received, and echoes some of the points made in this YouTube video via SMART Recovery USA.

Family members caring for a person using substances in an unhealthy way are treated differently than caregivers of people with other health conditions. Often...

09/20/2025

Tents to Rents is a great campaign that raises money for a great cause. Please consider making a contribution or sharing.

We are one week away from the official ending of the 2025 Tents to Rents campaign and I hope you will be able to help me reach my goal of raising $2000 to help them reach their goal of $130,000.

Minimum wage earners often cannot afford local housing, especially those who cannot work 40 hours per week. Local efficiency motel rooms on the Picacho corridor cost $750 per month and more for a single, bare bones accommodation.

Like others at Camp Hope, Darian has a job, his at a local McDonald’s. He said his boss knows that he lives at the Camp, and was happy to give him an opportunity to begin earning money with the hope of getting an apartment. He lived at Camp Hope for a while in 2020 and then spent a couple years couch surfing and staying with friends before he ran out of options and returned to Camp Hope. He is grateful for the security at the camp that ensures they can all sleep peacefully, and grateful for his job where he is treated as a member of the team and able to have free food during his shifts. He is optimistic that his stay at the camp will lead to better opportunities and stable housing in the near future.

Join us in helping people experiencing homelessness find a path to a better future. Support Camp Hope by clicking on my name at www.tentstorents.org

09/19/2025

“'The only thing that’s consistent about the opioid supply, and particularly fentanyl, is that it’s completely inconsistent,' (Phillip) Fiuty told Source NM in an interview Thursday afternoon."

Naloxone is more important than ever in these times.

I am also an advocate for safe supply. Imagine if you went to the store to buy beer and sometimes it was 1% alcohol and sometimes it was 20%. People shouldn't have to guess about what's in their substances.

New Mexico health officials report rising drug overdoses in Santa Fe, Taos and Rio Arriba counties, largely due to fentanyl

09/18/2025

Pickleball and tunes for a great cause!

Party and Pickle for a Purpose! ❤

Show up for community! Stay for the fun! There’s something for everyone to enjoy, all in support of a worthy cause! Join for one event or all!

Kick off the weekend with our Community Benefit Concert at Blue Moon Bar & Grill, featuring electrifying performances by Proud Pete and The Ghetto Blaster. Tickets are now available for purchase!

📅 October 10th – Community Benefit Concert at Blue Moon Bar & Grill
Players will receive free concert entry (limited number of tickets available)

📍 October 11th & 12th – Pickleball Tournament at East Mesa Sports Complex
October 11: Men's & Women's Doubles (Ages 19–49, 50+, Skill Levels 2.5–4.0+)
October 12: Mixed Doubles (Ages 19–49, 50+, Skill Levels 2.5–4.0+)

Is pickleball your jam?! Whether you are a pro or newcomer, everyone is welcome to join us for Pickle Jam! Newcomers, can learn the basics of pickleball! In partnership with Pickle Planet, FREE Pickleball 101 Sessions will be available with registration.

Fun awards for costumes, spirit and more will be awarded during the pickleball tournament!

Proceeds from the event will support the Greatest Needs Impact Fund, held at CFSNM, which has provided critical aid during wildfires, floods, and local crises. It serves as a safety net when disaster strikes—supporting people, animals, and communities in urgent need.

Let’s rock and rally to help strengthen Southern New Mexico! 🎸🎾
To learn more or purchase tickets, visit:
https://www.communityfoundationofsouthernnewmexico.org/2025-pickle-jam/

09/18/2025

Going in all over the state!

🚨 LIFE-SAVING ACCESS JUST GOT EASIER 🚨
We’re thrilled to announce the installation of FREE Narcan (naloxone) vending machines across New Mexico—thanks to the bold leadership of the New Mexico Health Care Authority. This initiative is a game-changer in our fight against opioid overdose and a powerful step toward recovery-friendly communities statewide.

💙 Narcan saves lives. It reverses opioid overdoses in minutes and is safe, easy to use, and now—more accessible than ever.

📍 Where to find them at Rio Grande ATP Offices:
• 2301 7th Street, Suite A, Las Vegas, NM 87701
• 105 Paseo del Canon West, Suite A, Taos, NM 87571

No prescription. No cost. No stigma. Just hope in a box.

This is more than harm reduction—it’s a statement of compassion, equity, and public health in action. Let’s spread the word, share the resource, and keep our communities safe.

09/18/2025

❤️❤️❤️

09/17/2025

Stop the presses! There's another Naloxone (Narcan) vending machine in town, courtesy of New Mexico Health Care Authority! This one is at Memorial Medical Center.

While I was here working on the machine some of the staff stopped and said they have always wanted to carry naloxone! I will be back with a couple of cases for the staff for personal use.

I love these opportunities to get naloxone out into the community!! ✌️

cc: Doña Ana County Health & Human Services

09/15/2025

Over the past few years, my journey has taken me through recovery, resilience, and community healing. Every step has shaped me, and it's shaping what comes next.

Something new is on the horizon… and I can’t wait to share it with you. 💜

Stay tuned on Mondays for more.

09/12/2025

Ni****ne is highly addictive, but it doesn't cause cancer. Va**ng and other ni****ne deliver systems that don't involve to***co are Harm Reduction.

The myth that ni****ne causes cancer is hurting public health, researchers say.

09/11/2025

My professional interests are not incidental to my lived experience.