HOBBS, N.M. —

Changing the way people see those who are addicted to illegal drugs is what the Public Health and Public Safety campaign is all about.

The campaign is an initiative of the nonprofit Dream.org, in partnership with Unlock Civics NM, and it was in Hobbs Saturday, as part of a statewide tour. Its goal is to persuade people to see addiction as a public health issue that can be overcome with community support, which in turn will increase safety for everybody.

Dream.org's New Mexico campaign organizer Justin Allen is working with health professionals and individuals in recovery, among others, to approach the issue with empathy instead of critical judgment.

"The\ current approach criminalizes addiction," Allen said. "It ignores root causes and neglects evidence-based harm reducti

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