Substance Abuse Prevention
The abuse of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, prescribed opioids and illicit drugs continue to affect the lives of individuals and families with consequences that impact Colorado communities.

Although the abuse of substances can be a law enforcement issue, it always a public health issue that requires ongoing prevention and intervention efforts, as well as access to treatment and recovery services.
The Office of the Attorney General continues to support various efforts to prevention and intervene with substance abuse, including the following:
- Active participation on the Colorado Substance Abuse Trend and Response Task Force
- Support for the Take Meds Seriously Campaign for safe use, storage and disposal of prescribed medications.
- Funding of substance abuse prevention through the local Boys and Girls Clubs across Colorado.
- Investigations into criminal drug activities and prosecution of drug cases, such as:
- Operation Chump Change netted 273 pounds of brown heroin valued at $40 million.
- The largest civil suit settlement in the U.S. against retailers of the dangerous drug ‘Spice.”
- Training of law enforcement personnel in the laws about marijuana.
- Marijuana education for students.
The Office of the Attorney General maintains an active partnership with:
- Colorado Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, which works on improving coordination between social services and law enforcement to assist children impacted by parental substance abuse.
- Rise Above Colorado, which works to impact teen perceptions and attitudes about the risks of substance abuse to help youth make empowered, healthy choices.
- Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, which provides a coordinated, statewide response to reduce the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs.
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, coordinating on investigations and on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Rx and Heroin Maps provides awareness through mapping the rise of deaths to prescription drug and heroin epidemic. Often times society loses perspective on who this is. The fact is, these loses are everyday people we love, everywhere.
Substance Abuse Trend & Response Task Force
Learn more about the Substance Abuse Trend and Response Task Force.
Resources
Good To Know: Marijuana in Colorado
Be Educated. Be Responsible
Speak Now Colorado
Parents Speak to Children and Youth About Substance Abuse
Take Meds Seriously Campaign
Safe Use, Safe Storage, Safe Disposal
Prevention Programs that Address Youth Marijuana Use
Using Prevention Research to Guide Prevention Practice
Colorado Marijuana Equivalency in Portion and Dosage Study, 2015
A Study of THC “Dose” of Marijuana Products
Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division Mid-Year Update, August 2015
Marijuana Licensing and Production
Colorado Office of Behavioral Health: Community Prevention
Monitoring Health Concerns Related to Marijuana in Colorado 2014
Contact Us
Colorado Office of the Attorney General
Office of Community Engagement (OCE)
Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center
1300 Broadway, 7th Floor
Denver, CO 80203
oce@coag.gov
José Esquibel
Director | Office of Community Engagement
720-508-6565 (Direct)
Renie Dugwyler
OCE Community Outreach Coordinator
720-508-6194 (Direct)