Medical Sobering Complete at Gateway Center

ALBUQUERQUE- Today, the City of Albuquerque announced the opening of the Medical Sobering Center, a new service at the Gateway Center, to provide a safe, medically supervised treatment for people with substance use disorder to gain sobriety and connect to resources.  Albuquerque is now home to one of only 60 sobering centers nationwide.

“It was only three years ago when we announced a bold new vision for our city’s response to homelessness and substance abuse. Now, that vision is coming to life with the Medical Sobering Center,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “This transformational new service will fill a critical gap in our city and provide treatment for folks who need a safe pathway to sobriety.”

The Sobering Center will serve up to 50 people at a time and up to 18,250 people annually, alleviating the strain from hospitals. From 2018 to 2020, there were 54,000 visits to UNM and Presbyterian Hospitals related to substance use issues. The center will operate around the clock, and patients can stay up to 24 hours. The center has beds, recliners, and private rooms for decompression.

“Far too many people are taken to hospitals for substance use issues, and that’s not always the appropriate place,” said Health, Housing, and Homelessness Director Gilbert Ramirez. “Through this new resource, we are making a bold change to address the community’s needs. People will now have access to a safe space to gain sobriety with medical oversight while also being connected to case management and other vital resources.”

Albuquerque Fire Rescue and the Bernalillo County Fire Department will refer people to the Sobering Center. Upon entering, guests are met with an open floor plan and a welcoming color palette.

“Through conversations with community members with lived experience, we determined what people want to see in their facility,” said Gateway Operations Officer, Jennifer McDonald. “We want this facility to be a space where people feel safe and welcome as they begin their healing journey.”

Listo Health has been selected as the operator for the Medical Sobering Center. Staff will provide treatment, access to case management, and connection to other services. Peer support workers will also be on staff to share their lived experiences and offer support.

"If this medical sobering center was around when I was struggling, I believe it could have saved my life,” said Denise Thomas, currently a Certified Peer Support Worker with ACS’s Opioid Education Program. “It would have given me the space and support to get the help I needed, without judgment, and set me on a path to recovery much sooner. No one should have to fight addiction alone, and this center is a lifeline for those who are still struggling."

The Medical Sobering Center will open in Mid-December.

This space is the result of local, state, and federal partners coming together. Senator Heinrich, Representative Stansbury, and the New Mexico federal delegation contributed $4.2 Million. Bernalillo County contributed $4.35 Million.

“Our communities are being ravaged by the behavioral health and addiction crisis,” Rep. Stansbury said. “It is going to take work at every level to address this and that’s why I’m so grateful for the Gateway Center and the new medical sobering center. I am proud to have secured $2.2 million in Community Project Funding to help get this project across the finish line. While the City of Albuquerque is working on the local level, I am doing everything I can at the federal level to support.”

“I’m pleased to have secured $4.2 million for the City of Albuquerque to ensure the Gateway Center provides a safe environment for folks in our community to start their recovery,” said Senator Martin Heinrich. “New Mexico’s first Medical Sobering Center will be a lifeline for New Mexicans experiencing alcohol and substance use disorders. I'm proud to see the Sobering Center meet our community members’ needs through access to counseling, housing navigation, and other critical support services.”

We would also like to thank our contractor, Bradbury Stamm Construction, architect Mullen Heller, and the surrounding neighborhoods for their support.