Colorado awards $11 million for opioid treatment and recovery in most competitive funding round to date

Colorado awards $11 million for opioid treatment and recovery in most competitive funding round to date

May 5, 2026 (DENVER) - The Colorado Opioid Abatement Council has awarded $11 million to 24 organizations and local governments in its most competitive infrastructure funding round to date, expanding opioid treatment, recovery, and prevention services across the state.

The funding comes from more than $912 million in opioid settlement dollars secured by the Colorado Attorney General's Office from manufacturers and distributors for their role in the opioid epidemic. These awards are part of the 10% of Colorado's opioid settlement funds dedicated to infrastructure, under a joint agreement between the state and local governments (PDF) that ensures all funds are used to address the crisis.

"This round made clear just how urgent the need remains," said Attorney General Phil Weiser. "Demand for funding far exceeded the available dollars, and the strength of the applications we received underscores the extraordinary work happening across Colorado. Unfortunately, we were not able to fund all the compelling and worthy projects. Moreover, the lack of funding and leadership at the federal level in this area-and, indeed, the painful cuts to social services-is fueling unmet needs, is irresponsible, and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. We will continue to do the best we can by investing these settlement funds into real results that save lives."

This fourth round of infrastructure funding drew 54 eligible applications requesting $39.9 million, highlighting growing demand for services statewide, with requests exceeding available funding by nearly four to one. The selected projects span 15 of Colorado's 19 opioid regions, serving 44 counties, with several statewide initiatives reaching all 64 counties. Once finalized, total infrastructure investments will reach $20.4 million.

The funding addresses infrastructure needs and supports both new facilities and expanded services, including treatment, recovery support, prevention, harm reduction, and services for people involved in the justice system. A majority of projects serve rural and underserved communities, expanding access to care in areas where services are limited or unavailable. Many also reduce barriers to treatment and recovery through services such as transportation, housing, and childcare.

The following organizations received awards:

Supporting recovery and housing

• Southwest Colorado Opioid Regional Council - Building Bridges Recovery Project ($446,025): Expands peer recovery coaching, support groups, and outreach, working with Advocates for Recovery Colorado to better serve justice-involved individuals in rural communities.
• Northwest Colorado Opioid Response Council - Recovery and prevention infrastructure ($509,434.16): Expands peer recovery services and strengthens recovery housing options, helping individuals access stable housing, employment, and long-term support.
• Region 4 Opioid Council - Hope for Homes ($300,000): In partnership with Hope House serving Northeastern Colorado and Omni Institute, expands recovery housing by acquiring property to provide stable, supportive living and connections to services for people in recovery.
• Southeast Colorado Opioid Regional Council - Fort Lyon Life Safety and Wellness ($402,850): Upgrades critical infrastructure and safety needs at a rural recovery housing community and expands space for peer-led programming, partnering with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless to improve stability and reduce relapse risk.

Expanding treatment access and support

• University of Colorado Denver - PRISM pediatric addiction care expansion ($551,865.56): Expands addiction care for youth and families, working with Children's Hospital Colorado to provide early intervention and stronger connections to ongoing treatment.
• Mesa County Regional Opioid Abatement Council - Orchard Mesa facility ($499,637): Completes a behavioral health facility in collaboration with the Counseling & Education Center, launching treatment services including counseling, peer support, and connections to higher levels of care.
• Region 15 Opioid Abatement Council - Behavioral health infrastructure hub ($431,972): Establishes a permanent rural facility offering outpatient treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and peer support, in partnership with Park County Counseling, to improve access and continuity of care.
• Colorado Behavioral Health Administration - Crisis system modernization ($712,500): Upgrades withdrawal management sites into comprehensive crisis centers, partnering with Signal Behavioral Health Network and Rocky Mountain Health Plans to medically manage substance use withdrawal and provide medications for opioid use disorder.
• Region 18 Opioid Settlement Governance Council - San Luis Valley Illuminating Childcare ($312,819.10): Expands mobile childcare for parents in treatment, reducing barriers to care and helping families stay engaged, in collaboration with the San Luis Valley Area Health Education Center.
• Southeast Colorado Opioid Regional Council - Medication Treatment Unit, La Junta ($665,620): Establishes a medication-assisted treatment site in a rural community without existing services, working with Crossroads Turning Points to expand access to counseling, medications, and ongoing care for in Southeast Colorado.
• Denver Opioid Abatement Council - Denver CARES expansion ($375,000): Modernizes and expands a regional treatment facility in partnership with Denver Health and Hospital Authority, to meet requirements for crisis services, residential treatment, and medication access.

Prevention and youth-focused services

• City of Alamosa - Early Childhood Learning Center ($750,000): Builds a family-centered hub with early childhood care, prevention, and support services, working with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley to strengthen family focused substance use prevention.
• City of Rifle - Youth behavioral health and recovery initiative ($698,400): Renovates a community facility in partnership with YouthZone to expand prevention, early intervention, and recovery services for youth, families, and justice-involved individuals.
• University of Colorado Boulder - Prevention and Early Intervention Expansion ($276,401): Expands evidence-based prevention and early intervention for college students through peer education, family engagement, and community partnerships that promote risk reduction.
• Colorado Department of Early Childhood - Family-centered infrastructure ($637,959.36): In partnership with Illuminate Colorado and the Family Resource Center Association, expands statewide support for families affected by substance use, including provider training, childcare access, and peer support for parents in recovery.
• Colorado State University Health Network - Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Programs ($183,499.50): Builds a recovery support system for college students, including peer support and stronger connections to treatment and community care.

Harm reduction and public health services

• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Hepatitis C treatment expansion ($375,000): Expands hepatitis C testing and treatment for people who use drugs, partnering with the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Boulder County AIDS Project, and the Harm Reduction Action Center to integrate care into syringe access and treatment programs.
• Southeast Colorado Opioid Regional Council - Substance use disorder program expansion ($218,814.75): Expands a rural program providing peer support, harm reduction, overdose prevention outreach, transportation, and jail-based services, working with Otero County Health Department to connect people to care.

Crisis response and justice system partnerships

• Southwest Colorado Regional Opioid Council - Pretrial Services & Treatment Access ($671,848.13): Creates a coordinated pretrial program that connects justice-involved individuals to treatment, working with The Pathways Project and Porch Light Health to provide medication-assisted treatment early in the legal process.
• Chaffee County - Co-response program expansion ($561,919.44): Expands a rural co-responder program by adding a second team of law enforcement and behavioral health professionals to respond to substance use-related crises.
• Northwest Colorado Opioid Response Council - Crisis and treatment access infrastructure ($500,000): In partnership with Memorial Hospital (Memorial Regional Health), Grand County Emergency Medical Services, and the Rural Alliance Addressing Substance Use Disorder-Colorado, expands transportation and emergency response services, including peer and clinician-led crisis transport and response to help people access care faster.

Statewide systems and capacity building

• University of Colorado Anschutz - Statewide data and learning system ($313,198): Develops a public dashboard to track opioid settlement spending, program activity, and outcomes, improving transparency and coordination statewide.
• Region 4 Opioid Abatement Council - Statewide evaluation infrastructure ($302,700): In partnership with Omni Institute and University of Colorado Anschutz, builds a shared evaluation framework and provides technical support to help regions track progress and improve decision-making.
• University of Colorado Anschutz - Grant writing assistance program ($302,537): Provides free grant writing support to help local governments and nonprofits secure additional funding for opioid response efforts.

All awards pending acceptance of funding terms.

These investments strengthen Colorado's coordinated statewide response to the opioid crisis, while highlighting the ongoing need for expanded services across Colorado. They also complement the Resilient Colorado funding opportunity from the Colorado Attorney General's Office, which drew a record number of applications and will be announced this summer.

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