Attorney General Phil Weiser announces more than $8.25 million in Colorado opioid crisis funding at annual conference

Attorney General Phil Weiser announces more than $8.25 million in Colorado opioid crisis funding at annual conference

Sept. 30, 2024 (LOVELAND, Colo.) - The Colorado Department of Law has awarded $8.25 million in funding to combat the opioid crisis statewide and within county jails, Attorney General Phil Weiser announced today at the third Colorado Opioid Abatement Council Conference in Loveland, Colo.

Nineteen organizations were awarded Opioid Response Strategic Impact Grants, while five jails received $50,000 each in recognition of their leadership in providing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and ensuring community support for individuals after release. Weiser also announced the department's commitment to provide support for the Naloxone Bulk Purchase Fund, ensuring that this life-saving treatment remains available in Colorado.

"Our approach to managing opioid settlement funds is widely hailed as one of the best in the country, and that's thanks to the tireless work of leaders across Colorado," said Weiser. "As we move forward, our mission is clear -to improve and save lives by working to make treatment available when and where it's needed as well as preserving access to life-saving naloxone, which can reverse an opioid overdose. Together, we will continue to innovate, collaborate, and build stronger, safer communities across Colorado."

Providing MOUD in criminal justice settings is one of the most effective ways to reduce overdose death rates. In Rhode Island, for example, there was a 61% decrease in post-release overdoses within the first year of offering MOUD in jails.

In Colorado, 20 county jails were nominated for recognition by jail staff, sheriffs, community members, and formerly incarcerated individuals for their outstanding work in providing MOUD and post-release care. Grants of $50,000 each were awarded to sheriff's offices in Summit, Moffat, Morgan, Pueblo (pending), and Arapahoe (pending) counties.

In his keynote address at the conference, Weiser emphasized his administration's commitment to ensuring the ongoing availability of naloxone. Starting in summer 2025, the department will collaborate with state partners to provide one-time funding for the state's Naloxone Bulk Purchase Fund, with details on the amount to be finalized. Additionally, his office will work with state agencies to explore strategies that secure the necessary resources for this life-saving initiative, preventing any gaps in funding.

Additionally, the Opioid Response Strategic Impact Grant will provide support to government and community organizations working to fight Colorado's opioid crisis. The Attorney General's office launched the application process in January 2024, receiving 83 applications totaling nearly $48 million in funding requests by the March 2024 deadline. Grants were awarded to the following organizations to advance initiatives in these critical areas:

Increase support for people in recovery by expanding peer services

• 5280 High School, $500,000 - The Recovery Reinvented program will enhance high school-based recovery for adolescents with substance use disorder by adding specialized staff to provide peer and clinical support.
• North Colorado Health Alliance, $750,000 - The program will increase peer recovery services in northern Colorado, with a focus on leadership development, supporting pregnant/postpartum individuals, and providing language access resources.

Provide substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery services that respect cultural differences

• Antelope Recovery, LLC, $150,000 - A new intensive outpatient program targeting young adults will focus on serving rural and Hispanic youth, with services delivered through virtual platforms and peer mentorship.
• Northwest Colorado Community Health Partnership, $675,000 - The program will increase peer recovery services and community events in rural northwest Colorado, targeting underserved populations such as Latinx, LGBTQIA+, and justice-involved individuals.
• United Way of Southwest Colorado, $140,000 - The Indigenous Wellbriety Program will offer youth-focused services and peer support for Native American community members with substance use disorders.

Expand access to MOUD, naloxone, and other proven services

• Clinica Family Health, $225,000 - The organization will implement systems to provide annual screenings for substance use disorders and expand MOUD to over 35,000 low-income Coloradans, including 1,000 perinatal patients.
• Colorado Health Network, Inc., $625,000 - The Access Point program will expand overdose prevention, harm reduction, and healthcare referrals to people who use drugs, with a focus on those with co-occurring disorders and vulnerable populations.
• Denver Recovery Group LCC, $450,000 - Colorado's first 24-hour methadone clinic will establish extended hours and offer additional services like telehealth and transportation for individuals in treatment.
• The Naloxone Project, $600,000 (pending) - Trainers will prepare first responders to improve naloxone distribution and pilot a buprenorphine field induction program to reduce opioid overdoses statewide.
• Porch Light Health, $475,000 - A virtual system will provide immediate access to addiction treatment, including MOUD, for patients in emergency or criminal justice settings.
• San Luis Valley Area Health Education Center, $295,000 - The program will increase syringe access, peer recovery services, and naloxone distribution to the most isolated communities in the San Luis Valley.
• Sobriety House, $130,000 - An intensive outpatient program will grow to provide group and individual therapy for those transitioning to long-term recovery.
• Young People in Recovery, $200,000 - A public education campaign will be launched to raise awareness about harm reduction strategies and Colorado's Good Samaritan Law, targeting people who use drugs and the general public.

Bolster housing options for people with substance use disorder

• Addiction Research and Treatment Services, $675,000 - This organization will establish two recovery residences that offer access to MOUD and on-site peer support.
• Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, $300,000 - The Family Opioid Impact Project will provide peer recovery support to families struggling with substance use in apartment complexes across four counties.

Offer family peer support and treatment for pregnant and new mothers struggling with addiction

• Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative, $685,000 - This project will help pregnant and postpartum individuals access evidence-based, culturally responsive care, including MOUD and peer recovery support.
• University of Colorado Denver - College of Nursing, $700,000 - The Recovery Coach Doula Program will train doulas with lived experience to support individuals with substance use disorder during pregnancy and postpartum.
• Judi's House, $300,000 - The program will provide mental health treatment for youth and their caregivers who have experienced a family death, addressing bereavement complications such as substance misuse and mental health concerns.

Encourage workplaces to support employees in recovery

• Recovery Friendly Leader, $125,000 (pending) - This program will support workplace leaders in creating recovery-friendly environments by offering training and resources to reduce stigma and support employees affected by substance use.

Funding for these grants stems from lawsuits against drug manufacturers and distributors, with Colorado on track to receive $787 million. This initiative targets the 10% of opioid settlement funds allocated to the state and all funds must be used to abate the opioid crisis, as outlined in a joint opioid framework agreement between the state and local governments.

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