Youth rehab center outlines goals for legislative session
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – With the 60-day legislative session starting next week, the people at Serenity Mesa Youth Recovery Center are pushing for more help for children and their families.
“We see a lot of depression, a lot of anxiety, a lot of hurt,” said David Burke, director of the Serenity Mesa Youth Recovery Center.
The nonprofit offers inpatient treatment and housing for people between 14 and 21 years old struggling with substance abuse.
Burke says the people living here are also dealing with mental health disorders.
“If you are using meth it’s going to have a long-lasting effect on your mental health and your brain. It changes the chemistry of your brain, so does a drug like fentanyl,” said Burke.
He’s been working with lawmakers, sharing ideas on protecting teens and young adults.
“We actually have to do the work and get things done and get things accomplished, and I’m really hoping it happens in this year’s session,” Burke said.
He has some bills he’s going to be watching, including House Bill 86. It would remove the time limit to take legal action against someone involved in human trafficking, and increase the age for sexual exploitation of children by prostitution to 18.
“The majority of our young girls who come to us have been sex trafficked,” said Burke.
House Bill 58 is another one. It would provide money for mental health training in schools across our state.
Burke says House Bill 70 would make people with mental illness and substance use disorders eligible for disability benefits from the state and federal government.
“It will allow Medicaid access to get treatment whether it’s permanent supportive housing occupational therapy or whether it’s finding psychiatrists, doctors,” Burke said.
Burke says he’s heading into this session hopeful lawmakers will put their differences aside, and work with our vulnerable neighbors in mind.
“It’s politics, so hopefully they get past the politics, and they actually pass the laws,” said Burke.