0

Overdose prevention

About our program

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment receives funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, to address drug overdose. We work closely with other federal, state and local partners to accomplish the following:

  • Conduct public health surveillance of the drug overdose epidemic.
  • Work with the Department of Regulatory Agencies to make the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) easier to use for Colorado health care providers.
  • Support prevention in opioid misuse and overdose by using existing data to inform evidence-based public health approaches. Partner with organizations across the state to implement local, evidence-based, data-driven prevention initiatives to support prevention strategies. 
  • Align and leverage state resources dedicated to preventing drug overdoses.

The publication of 2020 Census data has required changes in the way that Race and Hispanic Origin categories are represented in death statistics. The Census Bureau has worked hard to expand the information to code responses to the Race and Hispanic Origin questions on the Census form. These changes resulted in an increase in the number of persons classifying themselves as “multi-racial” that is, selecting more than one race on their Census form.

The Vital Statistics Program at CDPHE and the State Demography Office for Colorado have produced new data products for vital statistics data and population estimates reflecting the categories used by the Census. These have been incorporated into drug overdose death data for 2020-forward. 

These revisions require a break in the time frames presented since the race categories used in 2000-2019 vital statistics are not fully comparable with these categories used for 2020-forward.  Thus, three separate data visualizations on drug overdose deaths have been developed:

  • One dashboard of overdose deaths for the full time frame 2000-forward that does not include race or Hispanic origin;
  • A second dashboard of overdose deaths for the time frame 2000-2019 that includes the prior race categories (“bridged race”) and Hispanic origin;
  • A third dashboard of overdose deaths for the time frame 2020-forward that includes the updated race categories and Hispanic origin. 

For inquiries about the Overdose Prevention Unit contact odprevention@state.co.us.

What to ask your doctor before taking opioids
Colorado Household Medication Take-back Program
  • Find a location to drop off unused and expired medications.
  • Colorado syringe programs
    • Access programs for local public health agencies and members of the public who need access to sterile syringes and other harm-reduction services.

Stop the Clock Colorado

Stop the Clock Colorado's interactive map can help you find the nearest naloxone in an emergency.

Register for the Overdose Prevention Unit Monthly Virtual Naloxone Training
  • Register to participate in a 30-minute live training covering the basics of how to recognize and respond to opioid overdose.
  • Naloxone can quickly restore breathing and can prevent death in cases of opioid overdose. It is an important tool now available over the counter at your local pharmacy.  
  • An additional 15 minutes will be provided after the end of the training for Q&A. 
  • *Training is open to the general public, particularly those who may not have local access to live naloxone training.
Naloxone standing orders

Learn how pharmacies, law enforcement, local public health agencies, and harm reduction organizations can establish Naloxone standing orders.

Opioid overdose
Find treatment for substance use disorder

Colorado Behavioral Health Administration’s Licensing and Designation Database and Electronic Records System (LADDERS) offers a referral resource for information and services for prevention, treatment, and recovery from substance use and mental health conditions.

Own Path

The Own Path website can help you find Colorado mental health and substance use treatment providers.

Bring Naloxone home
Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
Colorado Crisis Services
  • Colorado Crisis Services provides 24/7 call, text, and in-person support to adults and youth in need of behavioral health support.
Colorado Take Meds Seriously
Harm reduction resources near you
Independent Evaluation of HB 22-1326, Colorado’s Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention Act
Legislative updates
  • The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention works with the Colorado General Assembly to provide reliable information about prescription drug use and misuse and to prepare possible policies and regulations. Learn more about current Legislative bills and more.
Naloxone for a drug overdose
Safe disposal
  • The Take Meds Back program helps provide secure collection boxes around the state so you can safely dispose of old medications.
WTFentanyl
  • The WTFentanyl website provides factual information from emergency physicians, toxicologists, and addiction medicine specialists about fentanyl exposure. The authors are experienced with fentanyl — both caring for patients with overdoses as well as using it medically to treat pain and created this resource to dispel myths related to fentanyl.