This Community Guide will describe how Colorado is spending its opioid settlements and whether Colorado is working to ensure community access to opioid settlement funds. Last revised September 1, 2024.
60% Regional Share
20% Local Governments Share
10% State Share
10% Infrastructure Share
Ultimate Decisionmaker
Local officials for cities and counties
(COAC)
Decision-making Process
Regional Opioid Abatement Councils develop two-year spending plans. The reviews regions’ plans solely to determine if proposed spending is for approved purposes.
Localities decide autonomously.
(Most have chosen to direct their local share to their respective region, subjecting those funds to the decision-making processes for the 60% regional share.)
The Colorado Attorney General makes spending decisions with recommendations from the .
The Colorado Opioid Abatement Council (COAC) decides on funding applications.
Supplantation
Discouraged but not prohibited
Discouraged but not prohibited
Not prohibited
Prohibited
Grant Funding
Up to each region (availability and processes will vary)
Up to each locality (availability and processes will vary)
Yes. See the Colorado Attorney General’s page.
Yes. See Colorado Opioid Abatement Council’s funding opportunities .
Public Input
Up to each (not required)
Up to each locality (not required)
Yes (not required, but meetings of the typically include a public comment period)
Yes (not required, but meetings of the typically include a public comment period)
Advisory Body
Yes (required). See the and .
The Colorado Opioid Abatement Council is not necessarily required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience. The state's requires it to include a "member or family member affected directly by the opioid crisis" (emphasis added). Regional councils are not required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience.
Up to each locality (not required)
Yes (required). See the .
The Committee is required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience.
Yes (required). See the .
The Council is not necessarily required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience. The state's requires it to include a "member or family member affected directly by the opioid crisis" (emphasis added).
Expenditures
Public reporting required. See the .
Public reporting required. See the .
Public reporting required. See the .
Public reporting required. See the . See also .
Updates
For updates on the regional share, visit the Colorado Attorney General’s page. The also encourages members of the public to “reach out to for regional funding opportunities.”
For updates on the local government share, visit the Colorado Attorney General’s page. Another good starting point is to check the website for your county commission, city council, or local health department.
For updates on the state share, visit the Colorado Attorney General’s page.
For updates on the infrastructure share, visit the Colorado Attorney General’s page. The also encourages members of the public to to stay updated on infrastructure share opportunities.
Total Funds
$713.17 million[1]
[1] Total is rounded. See . Accessed September 1, 2024.
Allocation
60% to regions, 20% to local governments, 10% to the state, and 10% to “infrastructure”
