Regional Profiles Purpose

The Colorado State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW) involves a network of state agencies and data experts that come together to examine the patterns, context, and impact of substance use to inform interventions at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels. Through federal funding provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services (SUPTRS) Block Grant, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment created and maintains these groups.

In 2021, the Colorado SEOW conducted a needs assessment with local and state public health representatives to understand current data use, capacity to access and analyze data, and how data were used in decision-making. Findings from the needs assessment revealed that professionals working around substance use need timely and localized data to understand the needs of their community. Therefore, the Colorado SEOW decided to dedicate fiscal year 2024 to the creation of the first-ever regional profiles.

The purpose of the regional profiles is to provide an overview of localized data by Health Statistics Regions (HSR) to community members and individuals working around substance misuse prevention and treatment. These profiles are intended as a resource for understanding substance use trends that can be used to inform local initiatives, programs, policies, and other activities.