Purpose

The Colorado SEOW increases awareness, understanding and access to data and data publications that address substance use,  misuse, and related health issues in Colorado. The Colorado SEOW is a multidisciplinary working group that promotes the collection, analysis, and clear communication of data to support and inform substance use, prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery, enforcement, and broader policy.

A Steering Committee guides the work of the SEOW and consists of individuals from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), The University of Colorado Denver, The Evaluation Center (TEC), Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), Vivent Health, CDC Foundation, and the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA). 

The Colorado SEOW is supported through federal funding through the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services (SUPTRS) Block Grant. The SEOW is managed by the Community Prevention and Early Intervention (CPEI) Unit within the Prevention Services Division (PSD) at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). 

CDPHE contracts with the University of Colorado – Denver, The Evaluation Center (TEC) to produce the substance use epidemiological profiles, regional profiles, newsletters, and the SEOW website.