NEW MEXICANS ARE LIVING LONGER THESE DAYS. NEW FIGURES FROM THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHOW WOMEN IN THE STATE, ON AVERAGE, LIVE TO AN AGE OF 81.4 YEARS...WHILE, FOR MEN, IT'S JUST OVER 76 YEARS.
BUT LOIS HAGGARD WITH THE DEPARTMENT SAYS LIFE EXPECTANCY IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE...SPECIFICALLY AN AREA IN MCKINLEY COUNTY...IS MUCH LOWER. MEN THERE HAD THE LOWEST LIFE EXPECTANCY OF 66-POINT 8. HAGGARD SAYS THAT'S MOSTLY DUE TO DEATHS BY INJURY AND DRUG OVERDOSES. ON THE OTHER HAND, WOMEN IN AN AREA OF DONA ANA COUNTY LIVE TO AN AVERAGE AGE OF 87...THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE.