Phil Weiser

The meeting included announcements from the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) regarding funding for recovery services and an upcoming RFP for Medication Assisted Treatment. Discussions covered reactivating a Data Committee, updates from the Substance Exposed Newborn Committee, and potential legislative recommendations from the Policy Ad-hoc Committee. The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse provided updates on safe disposal efforts, provider education, and the Heroin Response Work Group. Regional Prevention Services and Colorado Prevention Specialist Certification were also discussed. The Task Force reviewed its 2016 priorities, including prevention, policy and practice recommendations, and communication.

The meeting included discussions on possible legislation regarding powdered alcohol, medical marijuana and caregiver abuse, edibles, and hash oil production. Updates were provided on SB53, which the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention supports regarding standing orders for naloxone, and HB1214, which concerns abuse-deterrent formulations of prescription narcotics. The State Board of Education is considering changes to the annual Healthy Kids Survey, raising concerns about the reliability of data on student attitudes and usage. Members reported on substance abuse trends and responses, including meth, marijuana, heroin, and prescription drugs. The Consortium is working with Omni to develop a dashboard showing drug use with indicators and regions, and data from CDPHE and the federal government are being vetted. There were discussions on prenatal substance exposure, the intersection of child abuse and drug abuse, and the need for prevention programs. The Task Force also discussed the need for new treatment options, such as Vivitrol, and the challenges of marijuana use by offenders. Organized crime groups, heroin and meth use, and properties being used for grow houses were also discussed. The Consortium recently conducted a statewide survey and launched a public awareness campaign to take meds seriously, focusing on safe use, storage, and disposal.

The task force meeting included announcements from members regarding prevention grants awarded by the Office of Behavioral Health and a school outreach campaign by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to raise awareness of the dangers of marijuana use. A presentation was given on the "Take Meds Seriously" media campaign. The task force also discussed medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction and the efforts of the Colorado Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. Additionally, there was a review of the Youth Marijuana Prevention Campaign.

The task force meeting included updates on the Walgreen's Medication Disposal Program and the Colorado Medication Take Back Program. The Office of Behavioral Health discussed funding for Denver Health to implement the Hub and Spoke model recovery support, and the expansion of Naloxone distribution. There was also discussion of the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program. The Colorado State Judicial is conducting the Colorado Collaborative Justice Conference. Illuminate Colorado was invited to submit a proposal to provide training on Children and the Opioid Epidemic in Colorado. Smart Colorado was involved in key legislation this session related to marijuana. The task force discussed supporting the expansion of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and the impact of parental substance use disorders on children. The State Epidemiology Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW) will focus on alcohol use in Colorado. The Recovery Ready Colorado initiative is being planned for a launch in September. The Sen Hospital Learning Collaborative continues to meet. The Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention was awarded funds from the Office of Behavioral Health to support staff positions and to compile the Consortium's Toolkit. The Heroin Response Work Group released the report titled 'heroin in Colorado: A preliminary Assessment (April 2017).

The meeting addressed supporting rural providers and communities during COVID-19, focusing on telehealth and key needs like regional assessment centers and increased COVID-19 testing. The impact of releasing incarcerated people on Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) was discussed, highlighting the Jail Based Behavioral Health Services (JBBS) program. Concerns about high potency THC marijuana were presented, including its effects on adolescents and recommendations for policy changes. Updates were provided on the Colorado SEN Steering Committee's efforts to reduce substance use during pregnancy and improve family outcomes, along with progress from various work groups. The SBIRT Advisory Council discussed providing tools for healthcare providers to address substance use with patients during the COVID-19 crisis.