$18 million is awarded in first round of opioid settlement money for Colorado counties and cities

Greater than $18 million of opioid settlement cash is headed to communities throughout Colorado to assist struggle the epidemic. 

The Colorado Opioid Abatement Council, chaired by state Legal professional Normal Phil Weiser, permitted requests from native governments. Municipalities agreed to particular makes use of of the settlement funds, together with issues like dependancy therapy, restoration and prevention applications. 

“The discharge of those funds is a crucial step ahead in our efforts to deal with the opioid disaster,” mentioned Weiser in an announcement. “This disaster continues to take a toll on Coloradans.” 

The majority of the settlement cash comes from Johnson & Johnson and three main drug distributors. However hundreds of thousands are additionally coming from Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers; Teva/Allegan; Mallinckrodt; and McKinsey & Firm.

The council will make distributions to 19 areas and two federally acknowledged Colorado Tribes. However cities and counties in solely 12 areas requested cash for this primary spherical. Sixty p.c of almost $400 million in settlement cash is designated for regional governments. Twenty p.c will go to native governments. The state and statewide infrastructure will get 10 p.c every. 

Denver requested and can obtain $4.7 million {dollars} this spherical. Town and county will see $33.8 million over 18 years from the settlements. 

 “My administration is dedicated to seeing these {dollars} directed towards a full continuum of take care of folks experiencing dependancy, from therapy to addressing stigma and different obstacles, to restoration, with an emphasis on assembly folks the place they’re with the assistance they want,” mentioned Denver Mayor Michael Hancock in a launch. 

Area 18, which incorporates Saguache, Mineral, Rio Grande, Alamosa, Conejos, and Costilla counties will obtain $187,000. 

“This course of and funding have introduced teams along with renewed power to serve people, households, and this at-risk inhabitants,” mentioned Alamosa County Commissioner Lori Laske, member of the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council, in an announcement. 

“I can foresee the affect on the San Luis Valley area, from bringing again prevention schooling to our youth to creating restoration and therapy choices for the group, and I’m excited to see what it does for the state.”

The council was created by the state to supervise the opioid funds and ensure the distribution complies with the phrases of the settlement.