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Preventing prescription drug misuse

The misuse of prescription drugs is the fastest-growing drug concern in the United States and drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States.

Drop off your unwanted medications

The Colorado Medication Take-back Program provides for secure drop boxes in various locations.

 

How you can get involved
  • The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention was created in 2013 to establish a coordinated, statewide response to this major public health problem.

    • Its mission is to reduce the misuse of prescription drugs such as opioids, stimulants, and sedatives through improvements in education, public outreach, research, safe disposal, and treatment.

    • Access the Consortium’s 2019 Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Community Reference here.

  • To join a workgroup or mailing list, fill out the contact form.

 

Planning for the future
  • According to data released in 2019 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 4.6% or approximately 221,000 Coloradoans misuse prescription drugs compared to the regional average of 3.7%.

  • More than 255,000 Coloradans misuse prescription drugs and deaths involving the use of opioids nearly quadrupled between 2000 and 2011.

  • In 2018, 268 Coloradoans died due to an overdose involving prescription opioids (CDC WONDER, 2020).

Data resources