Recent Report by KFF Foundation claims that disbursement from the $50 billion Opioid Reconciliation Fund has been hampered in some regions by infighting between powerful regional organizations set up to oversee the fund.

That doesn’t seem to be the case here in northeastern Colorado, according to a Journal-Advocate study, and in fact local authorities are already working on their top priorities in a six-part, two-year plan. That doesn’t mean there aren’t shortcomings that need to be addressed, but Colorado’s problems are minor when compared to other states.

Colorado is divided into 19 municipalities to oversee the use of settlement funds. Regions group counties based on geography, economy, and population density.

In northeastern Colorado, 10 counties make up the residential area4: Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, and Yuma. . Of these counties, only his two towns, Hillrose in Morgan County and Sebert in Kit-Carson County, chose not to participate in the program.

Funds are distributed both regionally and to individual towns, cities and counties. Over his 18 years on the payout schedule, Region 4 will receive $4.6 million to address substance abuse in 10 counties. An additional $720,484 will be distributed to towns, cities and counties. For example, Cheyenne County received over $7,300 for him during the program, Cheyenne Wells for $94.52, and Kit Carson for $3,560 for a total of $11,000 within the county.

Some awards are so small that, for example, Ovid pays $1.42 in the first year and a total of $12.62 over the course of the program. Nearly all local governments have opted to transfer awards to their regions, resulting in Region 4’s purse of approximately $5.3 million. His two organizations, in the City of Sterling and Sedgwick County, are the only ones that have accepted the funds but have chosen to use them for their own programs.

While the region’s plans are primarily focused on providing new services to people suffering from drug addiction, in practice the top priority is transportation. Logan County Commissioner Mike Brownell, who was appointed to the board in February, said the reason for this is the small population in rural areas.

“Our number one priority is transportation because we need to get people where they can get help,” he said.

Brownell said the region had no trouble getting funding from the state and was impressed with how Yuma County Commissioner Scott Weaver, chair of the Region 4 board, has run the board. Yuma County is the financial agent for the Opioid Clearing Project, and its headquarters are located in the Yuma County Courthouse in Lae.

According to the KFF report, one group of people who are underrepresented by local authorities are those who have experienced addiction first hand. A recovering addict can add insight into the needs of the afflicted. And in region 4 that is exactly the case.

The regional board is made up of four community leaders (city councilors or city employees), five county commissioners, and two law enforcement representatives. The commission is supported by an advisory board made up of the Centennial Department of Mental Health and health departments of Elbert County, Kit Carson County, and northeastern Colorado. There are no actual caregivers or medical community representatives on the board, and no one to represent the very people most affected by substance abuse.

However, the board seems to be doing well. A review of the minutes of the meeting shows that the Commission is determined to use the settlement money wisely and pragmatically.

Link:

Region 4 two-year plan

Distribution of local governments

Colorado Opioid Settlement Dashboard