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 $871 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 |
| Endo | $ 5,463,283 |
| Johnson & Johnson | $ 72,335,953 |
| Kroger | $ 69,786,305 |
| Mallinckrodt | $ 5,533,225 |
| McKinsey | $ 9,926,054 |
| Publicis | $ 5,699,388 |
| Purdue Pharma | $ 78,270,000 |
| Teva | $ 65,040,485 |
| Walgreens | $ 86,241,756 |
| Walmart | $ 44,906,208 |
Total |
$ 871,184,839 |
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 (opens webpage)
- The 19 regional councils determine how to distribute and manage their funds with oversight from the statewide Colorado Opioid Abatement Council.
- Regions have two opportunities to submit funding requests. Deadlines are September 15 & March 15 of each year.
- Additional funding request deadlines can be added at the determination of the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council.
- Contact your Regional Council primary contact to learn about regional funding opportunities (opens PDF).
- 20% Local Government Share: Learn how local governments are managing their funds (opens webpage)
- 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 (opens webpage)
- Managed by the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council (opens webpage) and distributed to regions, local governments, and state entities for opioid abatement infrastructure needs.
- The COAC approved $1.9 million in infrastructure funding in March 2023 (opens March 2023 press release), $2.5 million in August 2023 (opens August 2023 press release), and $5 million in May 2025 (opens May 2025 press release).
- The Round 3 Infrastructure Share funding opportunity closed on February 3, 2025 (see the May 15 press release (opens May 2025 press release) to read about the Round 3 awardees)
- 10% State Share: View all current Department of Law opioid funding opportunities (opens webpage)
- Managed by the Department of Law for state initiatives, including funds for expenditure reporting and regional planning.
- Please go to the Department of Law Funding Opportunities page (opens webpage) to see current and past funding opportunities.
- In September 2024 (opens September 2024 press release), nineteen organizations were awarded Opioid Response Strategic Impact grants totaling $8 million to combat the opioid crisis statewide. In addition, 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.
- In December 2023 (opens December 2023 press release), eight organizations were awarded Opioid Abatement Innovation Challenge grants totaling $4 million for their innovative ideas in addressing the opioid crisis throughout Colorado.
- Managed by the Department of Law for state initiatives, including funds for expenditure reporting and regional planning.
Register for the opioid response newsletter (opens webpage) 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 (opens PDF), 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.