Opioid addiction and overdoses have devastated families and communities across Colorado. This crisis poses a serious threat to the State’s public health, safety, and economy. As a result of several historic settlements with major drug manufacturers and distributors, the Colorado Department of Law is distributing nearly $750 million in opioid settlement dollars throughout the state for substance use treatment, recovery and prevention programs.

The majority of the dollars will be distributed to 19 regions for local governments, including Region 10, which consists of Clear Creek, Gilpin and Jefferson counties.

On Thursday, February 29 at Red Rocks Community College, representatives from Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin counties gathered at the Gateway to the Rockies Opioid Council (GROC) Conference to address how the opioid settlement dollars affect the opioid epidemic. The Conference also helped inform how best to allocate the region’s future funding.

In attendance from Gilpin County government were Commissioners Susan Berumen and Sandy Hollingsworth, Sergeant Stephen Mathews, Sheriff Kevin Armstrong, Human Services Director Janey Barker, and Public Health Director Alisa Witt. Sergeant Encinias from the Black Hawk Police Department was also in attendance.

After an introduction from the Chair of GROC, Jefferson County Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper, attendees heard from Dr. Josh Blum, Director of Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Treatment at Denver Health, on “Trends in Substance Use and Treatment.”

Dr. Blum shared statistics on both fentanyl and total overdose deaths in Denver and in our region. Our region has seen steadily increasing rates of overall overdose deaths, in particular from fentanyl. One circumstance Dr. Blum shared from these statistics was that half of people who die from an overdose do so with an eyewitness. Sheriff Armstrong shared that in Gilpin County, there has been an increase in arrests and confiscation of fentanyl.

The grantees of the first round of opioid funds in Region 10 were announced. These were:

• Advocates for Recovery Colorado: $494,863 award for its Recovery community organization expansion including peer services, transportation, and a rural staffing project.

• Clear Creek Health Assistance Team (CCHAT): $199,260 award for its behavioral health co-response in the Clear Creek County project. Grant funding will allow them to increase co-response activities.

• Jefferson County Mental Health (JCMH): $150,287 award for its behavioral health co-response in the Jefferson County project. With this grant, JCMH will add a second co-responder for Wheat Ridge.

• Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office: $267,033 award for its behavioral health co-response in the Gilpin County project. This grant will provide co-response capabilities by securing technology to increase connectivity to complete telehealth program for people in crisis.

Conference attendees then heard a keynote from Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. He shared information about the Opioid Settlement funds, and highlighted an online dashboard where the public can view information about the progress of the various projects at https://coag.gov/opioids/ dashboard. He also commended the GROC for building infrastructure for managing the settlement funds and being one of the earlier regions to get out funds.

Jefferson County Commissioner Andy Kerr then provided an update on the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council before breaking for lunch. After lunch, the attendees heard from a panel of young adults overcoming substance misuse, their experiences, and any recommendations for working with youth. One of the key takeaways from that discussion was that youth need youth peers with whom they can identify.

The last presenter was Representative Chris DeGruy Kennedy, Chair of the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee, who provided a Colorado Legislative Update. There are currently four bills related to opioid abuse in the two Houses, covering prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction.