Colorado Priority Topic Investments

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Colorado Overdose Investment Snapshot

Combatting the current overdose crisis is a priority for the agency. This page provides an overview of the FY22 CDC Injury Center (NCIPC) overdose investments for the state of Colorado.

There were 106,699 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2021 (32.4 deaths per 100,000 standard population), a 16% increase from 2020. Approximately 75% of drug overdose deaths in 2021 involved at least one opioid; 66% of deaths involved synthetic opioids (e.g., illicitly manufactured fentanyls). Drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids increased 25%, deaths involving psychostimulants (e.g., methamphetamine) increased 37%, and deaths involving cocaine increased 26% from 2020 to 2021. Although deaths increased overall and in all drug categories except heroin, the increases from 2020 to 2021 were generally lower than those from 2019 to 2020, suggesting a slowing of the increase in overdose deaths.

In 2021 in Colorado there were:

1,887

overdose deaths

31.4

overdose deaths per 100,000 people (age-adjusted)

Source: NVSS – Drug Overdose Deaths

Overdose Funding At A Glance

Overdose Funding At A Glance
$4,884,823 FY22 Colorado Total Overdose Prevention Funding	FY22 Awards Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) Colorado State Award: $4,085,898 Public Health and Public Safety Overdose Response Strategy: $74,500* Research Denver Health and Hospital Authority: $724,425 *average award amount

Examples of How Colorado Is Working to Prevent Overdose

Overdose strategies
	Syndromic surveillance Syndromic surveillance can help rapidly identify outbreaks and changes in drug overdose-related emergency department visits. Colorado improved real-time reporting of emergency department visits involving overdose from 60% to 90% statewide.
	Data-driven prevention Colorado awarded 11 local health department and community agencies funds over three years to implement data-driven overdose prevention strategies. Springs Recovery Connection in El Paso County hired recovery support specialists to give follow-up support to patients admitted for opioid overdose in the emergency department and connect them to resources.

CDC Overdose Prevention Strategies

CDC’s Injury Center plays a critical role in addressing the drug overdose epidemic by driving progress in the five strategic priorities that guide CDC’s response framework for preventing overdoses.

Strategic Priorities Overview
Monitor, Analyze, and Communicate Trends
Build State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Capacity
Support Providers, Health Systems, Payors, and Employers
Partner with Public Safety and Community Organizations
Raise Public Awareness and Reduce Stigma

Additional Resources

Colorado Suicide Prevention Investment Snapshot

Preventing suicide is a priority for the agency. This page provides an overview of the FY22 CDC Injury Center (NCIPC) suicide prevention investments for the state of Colorado.

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. It was responsible for more than 48,000 deaths in 2021, which is about one death every 11 minutes. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2021, 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.7 million attempted suicide.

In 2021 in Colorado there were:

1,384

suicide deaths

22.8

suicide deaths per 100,000 people (age-adjusted)

Source: Suicide Rates by State (cdc.gov)

Suicide Prevention Funding At A Glance

Suicide Funding At A Glance
$946,139 FY22 Colorado Total Suicide Prevention Funding	FY22 Awards Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: $901,139 Veteran Suicide Prevention Project Sanctuary: $45,000

Colorado's Priorities

Colorado is preventing suicide with CDC Injury Center (NCIPC) funding by:

Strengthening access and delivery of suicide care
Creating protective environments
Promoting connectedness
Teaching coping and problem-solving skills
Identifying and supporting people at risk
Lessening harms and preventing future risk

Some groups have higher rates of suicide than others. To address disparities, Colorado is focusing on:

6 counties with high rates of suicide

Disclaimer

This snapshot reflects suicide prevention priorities and activities under Year 1 funding of the Comprehensive Suicide Prevention (CSP) Program. This information is subject to change. For additional information, please see CSP: Program Profiles.

Examples of How Colorado Is Working to Prevent Suicide

Suicide strategies
	Postvention response planning The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment plans to conduct outreach to county mental health centers, behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment and counseling agencies, and county hospitals. This outreach will support the development of postvention (organized response following a suicide) procedures and protocols. This includes development of policies, for the outreach and support of people who have lost a friend or loved one to suicide, as well as clinicians, therapists, and staff who experience a suicide attempt by a client or loss of a client.
	Peer engagement Colorado is supporting peer engagement activities through workplaces, veteran serving organizations, faith communities, and older adult-serving organizations.

CDC Suicide Prevention Strategies

Suicide is preventable and there is no single cause, so prevention requires addressing the multiple factors linked to suicide at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels. As such, CDC is leading a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention. Such an approach aims to prevent people from becoming suicidal in the first place and support people at increased risk. CDC uses near real-time data to track and monitor suicide trends, research possible risks and what works to prevent them, and help communities put proven suicide prevention strategies into place.

CDC’s Suicide Prevention Resource for Action outlines seven strategies that are based on the best available evidence to help communities and states focus on prevention activities with the greatest potential to prevent suicide.

Strengthen economic supports
Create protective environments
Improve access and delivery of suicide care
Promote healthy connections
Teach coping and problem-solving skills
Identify and support people at risk
Lessen harms and prevent future risk