More than $18 million of opioid settlement money is headed to communities across Colorado to help fight the epidemic.
The Colorado Opioid Abatement Council, chaired by state Attorney General Phil Weiser, approved requests from local governments. Municipalities agreed to specific uses of the settlement funds, including things like addiction treatment, recovery and prevention programs.
“The release of these funds is an important step forward in our efforts to address the opioid crisis,” said Weiser in a statement. “This crisis continues to take a toll on Coloradans.”
The bulk of the settlement money comes from Johnson & Johnson and three major drug distributors. But millions are also coming from Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers; Teva/Allegan; Mallinckrodt; and McKinsey & Company.
The council will make distributions to 19 regions and two federally recognized Colorado Tribes. But cities and counties in only 12 regions requested money for this first round. Sixty percent of nearly $400 million in settlement money is designated for regional governments. Twenty percent will go to local governments. The state and statewide infrastructure will get 10 percent each.
Denver requested and will receive $4.7 million dollars this round. The city and county will see $33.8 million over 18 years from the settlements.
“My administration is committed to seeing these dollars directed toward a full continuum of care for people experiencing addiction, from treatment to addressing stigma and other barriers, to recovery, with an emphasis on meeting people where they are with the help they need,” said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock in a release.
Region 18, which includes Saguache, Mineral, Rio Grande, Alamosa, Conejos, and Costilla counties will receive $187,000.
“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, in a statement.
“I can foresee the impact on the San Luis Valley region, from bringing back prevention education to our youth to creating recovery and treatment options for the community, and I am excited to see what it does for the state.”
The council was created by the state to oversee the opioid funds and make sure the distribution complies with the terms of the settlement.
Here's a full list of the Colorado counties and the money they received:
| Region | Counties | Money received |
| 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 |
