First round of opioid settlement funds will soon reach Colorado’s communities

Sept. 29, 2022 (DENVER) – The Colorado Opioid Abatement Council today cleared the way for several regions and local governments in the state to receive more than $18 million in opioid settlement funds to combat the opioid epidemic.

In today’s meeting, the council determined the requests for funds complied with approved uses in an agreement that 312 local governments signed on to, which outlines the ways the funds can be used. The council also asked the banking firm holding Colorado’s opioid settlement funds to send the funds to the regions and local governments

“The release of these funds is an important step forward in our efforts to address the opioid crisis,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser, the chair of the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council. “This crisis continues to take a toll on Coloradans. We will continue working with our regional opioid abatement councils and local governments as they work together toward a better future for all Coloradans.”

This is the first round of opioid settlement funds being released to communities in Colorado. Funding can be requested each year for the next 18 years, and 12 of Colorado’s 19 regions chose to request funds available during this first funding period. Regions that have not yet requested funds will have two more opportunities to request funding this year, on Nov. 1 and Dec. 15., but after this first year funding requests are due each September.

Additionally, the 78 local governments that chose to receive their funding separately rather than directing that money to their respective regions will begin receiving their share of opioid settlement funds. Local governments and regions will receive the money as soon as they complete the necessary processes with the banking firm.

“This process and funding have brought groups together with renewed energy to serve individuals, families, and this at-risk population,” said Alamosa County Commissioner Lori Laske, member of the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council. “I can foresee the impact on the San Luis Valley region, from bringing back prevention education to our youth and creating recovery and treatment options for the community, and I am excited to see what it does for the state.”

The following are the funding amounts for each of Colorado’s regions that requested funds for the first year:

  • Region 1: Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt, Jackson and Grand counties – $357,809
  • Region 2: Larimer County – $2,052,502
  • Region 3: Weld County – $1,258,326
  • Region 4: Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Yuma, Washington, Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, and Phillips counties – $610,237
  • Region 5: Garfield, Eagle, Summit, Pitkin, and Lake counties – $500,000
  • Region 11: Denver County – $4,710,151
  • Region 12: Douglas County – $50,000
  • Region 13: Mesa County – $955,000
  • Region 14: Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, and Hinsdale counties – $512,900
  • Region 15: Park, Chaffee, Fremont, and Custer counties – $503,791
  • Region 18: Saguache, Mineral, Rio Grande, Alamosa, Conejos, and Costilla counties – $187,000
  • Region 19: Pueblo, Huerfano, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, Bent, Prowers, Las Animas, and Baca counties – $2,704,412

The council was created by the Colorado Department of Law in agreement with local governments to provide oversight of the opioid funds and to ensure the distribution of those funds complies with the terms of any settlement and the Colorado Opioid Settlement Memorandum of Understanding. The council asked the department to provide administrative support.

For more information about the council, go to coag.gov/opioids. To view more information about the funding requests and regions, please visit the Colorado opioid settlement funds framework dashboard at coag.gov/opioids/dashboard.

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Media Contact
Lawrence Pacheco
Director of Communications
(720) 508-6553 office | (720) 245-4689 cell
Lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov