How Colorado’s Opioid Settlement Funds will be Distributed and Used
Toolbox Resource
Description
This video explains how Colorado plans to distribute opioid settlement funds through a statewide agreement that allocates money over 18 years across local governments, 19 regional councils, and smaller shares for infrastructure and statewide initiatives. The discussion outlines “allowable uses” for the funds—prevention/education, treatment and recovery supports, harm reduction (e.g., naloxone), and criminal justice–related diversion and continuity of care—with an emphasis on avoiding duplication and addressing distinct rural versus urban needs (including workforce and access gaps). It also describes governance, transparency, and safeguards intended to keep funds dedicated to opioid abatement, including required regional plans, public reporting via a dashboard, and structural protections designed to prevent diversion of funds to unrelated uses. For communities outside Colorado, the approach offers a concrete model for building regional governance, setting spending guardrails, and balancing state-level coordination with local decision-making when distributing opioid settlement resources.
Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQbfLzA9k5Q&list=PLb5i4XekQOlQdyX5kZTF6JECDllAcdkLS&index=6
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