Larimer County Jail Receives Colorado Opioid Abatement Leadership Award

The Larimer County Jail received recognition for its opioid addiction treatment programs at the Colorado Opioid Abatement Complex Conference on October 27, marking the second consecutive year the facility has earned statewide honors for its work addressing substance use disorders among people in custody.

The award was presented during the conference held at Embassy Suites in Larimer County, where Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser participated in panel discussions and moderated sessions focused on addiction treatment and harm reduction strategies.

Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally attended the conference and announced the recognition during the Board of County Commissioners' October 28 administrative matters meeting.

"I went in between our land use hearings to the Colorado Communities in Action Leadership Award which is a part of the Opioid Abatement conference and the AG's office gave out some leadership awards," Shadduck-McNally said. "Our Larimer County Jail received another leadership award."

Captain Stacy Schaefer previously received a similar leadership award in 2024, according to Shadduck-McNally.

Jail Programs Address Addiction During Incarceration

The Larimer County Jail operates medication-assisted treatment programs that provide buprenorphine and naltrexone for eligible inmates struggling with opioid use disorder, according to Colorado Medicaid demonstration reports. Jail-based clinical staff provide addiction counseling and coordinate with county behavioral health specialists.

The facility partners with the Larimer County Health Department to provide naloxone education and distribution both within the jail and upon release. The jail also works with local treatment providers and the county's opioid abatement council to ensure incarcerated individuals have access to peer support specialists and re-entry planning focused on continuity of care.

Major expansions of these programs occurred starting in 2022, funded by opioid settlement distributions, with medication-assisted treatment and re-entry services expanded through 2023-2025.

Conference Recognizes Cross-Sector Opioid Response

The Colorado Opioid Abatement Complex Conference, which began in 2022, brings together local governments, behavioral health organizations and state agencies to coordinate statewide responses to the opioid epidemic. The Colorado Opioid Abatement Council, established by the Attorney General's office, organizes the annual event.

Leadership awards recognize outstanding regional and local responses to the opioid crisis, with categories including medication-assisted treatment expansion, jail and detention facility programming, youth prevention initiatives, harm reduction leadership and peer support workforce development.

The council typically presents five to 10 awards annually to organizations, local governments, jails and advocacy groups demonstrating measurable impact, innovation and sustainability in their opioid response programs.

Larimer County stands out among Colorado jails due to its early adoption of a cross-government abatement council model and sustained expansion of jail-based treatment and linkage programs, according to Colorado Medicaid Section 1115 SUD demonstration monitoring reports. Many other jails rely on pilot programs rather than a dedicated, council-funded abatement strategy.

Northern Colorado Faces Ongoing Overdose Crisis

Larimer County recorded approximately 12.3 opioid overdose deaths per 100,000 residents in 2024, on par with the Colorado state average, according to state health data. Weld County reported a slightly lower rate of about 10.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, though nonfatal overdoses and fentanyl-related incidents have increased.

Both counties face substantial challenges related to fentanyl, mirroring state and national trends indicating overall increases in synthetic opioid mortality through 2025.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment coordinates opioid response through the state's Opioid Abatement Council, which identifies county jails as critical intervention points for treating high-risk populations and reducing recidivism.

Colorado jails are required to offer screening for opioid use disorder, provide or refer for medication-assisted treatment, and offer naloxone on release when possible, with funding and technical assistance from the council and state health department.

Behavioral Health Expansion Continues

The award comes as Larimer County expands behavioral health services across multiple facilities. Commissioners toured the new adolescent wing of the Behavioral Health Center last week before it begins accepting young patients.

Commissioner Kristen Stevens joined the tour with social work students who praised the facility design and furnishings selected for the adolescent unit. "It was great to be able to see that facility," Stevens said during the October 28 meeting. "Really exciting to be able to bring young people into that."

The 2024-2025 Larimer County budget allocates funding for jail-based treatment programs primarily through opioid settlement distributions managed by the county council and administered via grants from the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council.