Colorado Awards $12 Million in Opioid Settlement Grants to 27 Organizations Statewide

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has announced $12 million in grants to 27 organizations across the state, marking the latest investment of opioid settlement funds into community-led solutions. The grants, awarded through the Department of Law's Resilient Colorado Grant program, will expand prevention programs, youth treatment and recovery services, reentry support for people leaving prison, and workforce development in rural and underserved communities.

Since taking office, Weiser has secured more than $912 million in opioid settlements from manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies, and other companies for their role in fueling the opioid epidemic. Monday's announcement represents a significant step in deploying those funds to address the crisis at the community level.

Record Demand for Funding

The Department of Law received 287 applications requesting more than $171 million — making this the department's largest and most competitive funding opportunity to date. The selected projects will serve communities across every region of Colorado, from urban Denver neighborhoods to rural mountain towns.

"Colorado's opioid settlement funds are helping us build a comprehensive response to the opioid crisis grounded in evidence, accountability, and collaboration," said Attorney General Weiser. "These grants are part of a broader portfolio of investments that supports local leadership, strengthens statewide infrastructure, and expands prevention, treatment, recovery, and peer support across Colorado."

Youth Prevention and Family Support

Several grants focus specifically on preventing substance use among young people and supporting families:

Harmony Acres Equestrian Center ($210,000): Expands peer mentoring and resilience programs that help youth build protective factors against future substance misuse through equine-assisted activities.
Mosaic Unlimited ($265,000): Uses evidence-based parenting education and family support to reduce substance use risk among children of formerly incarcerated and teen fathers.
Tepeyac Community Health Center ($625,000): Launches a culturally and linguistically tailored prevention program serving Hispanic and Latino youth and families in Denver's Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea neighborhoods.
Trail Lamp Youth Services/Business Art Mentorship ($300,000): Provides arts-based mentoring, leadership development, and prevention programming for youth facing elevated risk factors for substance misuse.
Vuela for Health ($460,000): Delivers culturally responsive mental health and prevention programming that strengthens resilience among Spanish-speaking youth and families.
YMCA of Metropolitan Denver ($535,000): Expands after-school programming that promotes healthy behaviors and prevents substance use among at-risk youth.

Treatment, Recovery, and Reentry Services

The grants also fund critical treatment and recovery infrastructure:

The Phoenix ($500,000): Supports expansion of sober, active community programming that uses physical activity and social connection to support long-term recovery.
Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition ($400,000): Provides reentry support and case management for individuals leaving prison, connecting them with treatment and recovery services.
Jefferson Center for Mental Health ($750,000): Expands medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and recovery support services in Jefferson, Gilpin, and Clear Creek counties.
San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group ($600,000): Increases access to substance use disorder treatment in one of Colorado's most rural and underserved regions.

Rural and Workforce Investments

Recognizing that rural communities face unique barriers to accessing care, several grants target workforce development and service expansion in underserved areas:

Colorado Health Service Corps ($1,000,000): Provides loan repayment and scholarships for behavioral health professionals who commit to working in rural and underserved communities.
Centura Health ($850,000): Expands telehealth addiction treatment services to reach patients in remote mountain communities.
Peak Vista Community Health Centers ($720,000): Adds integrated behavioral health services in primary care settings across southern Colorado.

What This Means for Colorado Families

For families seeking addiction treatment or prevention resources, these grants signal expanded capacity across the state. Key benefits include:

More youth prevention programs: Culturally tailored services for Hispanic and Latino families, arts-based mentoring, and equine therapy options.
Better rural access: Telehealth expansion and workforce incentives aim to address provider shortages outside the Front Range.
Reentry support: Individuals leaving the criminal justice system will have improved access to treatment and recovery housing.
MAT availability: Expanded medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in underserved counties.

The Bigger Picture

Colorado's approach reflects a growing trend among states to use opioid settlement funds for comprehensive, community-based responses rather than one-time projects. The $912 million secured by the Attorney General's office represents Colorado's share of national settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors.

The Resilient Colorado Grant program emphasizes local leadership and evidence-based approaches, with grantees required to demonstrate measurable outcomes in prevention, treatment access, or recovery support.

What's Next

Grant recipients will begin implementing programs immediately, with most projects launching by fall 2026. The Attorney General's office will monitor outcomes and expects to announce additional funding rounds as settlement dollars continue to flow into the state.

For Colorado families affected by addiction, the grants represent a significant expansion of local resources — from Denver neighborhoods to San Luis Valley towns — providing new pathways to prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery.

If you or someone you know needs help with substance use, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information.