Attorney General Phil Weiser is fighting the opioid crisis on many fronts

Colorado Opioid Overview

Opioid overdoses and addiction have devastated families and communities throughout Colorado, and this crisis poses a serious threat to the state’s public health, safety, and economy.  

To combat this crisis, the Colorado Department of Law is suing unscrupulous pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, improving access to treatment in rural and underserved communities, and cracking down on drug cartels to stop the trafficking of counterfeit pills containing deadly fentanyl.

To date, Colorado is on track to receive over $787 million in opioid settlement funds.

Our office is leading a historic joint framework to distribute the opioid settlement funds in partnership with 312 participating local governments that prioritizes regionalism and collaboration.

Anticipated allocations by settlement

Settlement

Amount
Allergan $ 35,831,849
CVS $ 79,293,082
Distributors $ 312,857,251
Johnson & Johnson $ 72,335,953
Kroger $ 70,000,000
Mallinckrodt $ 5,533,225
McKinsey $ 9,926,054
Publicis $ 5,699,388
Teva $ 65,040,485
Walgreens $ 86,241,756
Walmart $ 44,906,208

Total

$ 787,665,251

Colorado Opioid Response Strategy Framework

The Colorado framework grants local governments and regions control of 80% of the settlement funds with oversight from the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council and support from the Colorado Department of Law. The framework gives communities the needed resources and flexibility to address the opioid crisis.

Funds secured from the opioid settlements will be distributed across four shares:

  • 60% Regional Share: Learn more about the 19 Regional Opioid Abatement Councils
  • 20% Local Government Share: Learn how local governments are managing their funds
    • Direct allocation available to participating governments; most local governments chose to direct their funds to their regions to pool resources and reduce expenses.
  • 10% Infrastructure Share: Learn about the Infrastructure Share and how to apply for funds
    • Managed by the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council and distributed to regions, local governments, and state entities for opioid abatement infrastructure needs.
    • The COAC approved over $1.9 million in infrastructure funding for six organizations in March 2023, and $2.5 million for an additional six organizations in August 2023.
    • Next round of applications will open summer 2024. 
  • 10% State Share: View all current Department of Law opioid funding opportunities
    • Managed by the Department of Law for state initiatives, including funds for expenditure reporting and regional planning.
    • The State is no longer accepting applications for the Opioid Response Strategic Impact Grant.
    • In December 2023, eight organizations were awarded Opioid Abatement Innovation Challenge grants totaling $4 million for their innovative ideas in addressing the opioid crisis throughout Colorado.
    • Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in Jail and Connections to the Community Recognition closed on May 15th, 2024. These awards are intended to recognize county jails within Colorado that have shown excellence or demonstrated progress in providing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and connections to the community upon release. This request for nominations is for a one-time $50,000 grant to continue work.

Register for the opioid response newsletter to receive all state opioid settlement funding opportunity announcements.

All funds must be used for approved opioid abatement purposes, and all expenditure data will be available through the Colorado Opioid Settlement dashboard.

The funds are distributed in accordance with the Colorado Opioid Settlement Memorandum of Understanding, an agreement between the state of Colorado and 312 participating local governments.

The Colorado MOU establishes the framework for distributing and sharing these settlement proceeds throughout Colorado. Local governments and the State prepared the Colorado MOU, which prioritizes regionalism, collaboration, and abatement.

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