Youth Prevention:

As of September 2018, there are four grant-funded youth substance abuse prevention coalitions in the tri-county area. These coalitions all utilize the evidence-based strategy of community-based processes and community mobilization to collectively address individual-level, community-level, and societal risk and protective factors influencing youth health and success.

Public Awareness:

The Public Awareness Work Group works to promote awareness of the Partnership as a whole and also to support public education and awareness efforts across each of the strategy areas. The work group's objectives include increasing awareness of TCOPP, planning and coordinating education and awareness events, and development of branded TCOPP materials.

Provider Education:

The objectives of the Provider Education Work Group include increasing knowledge among providers about safe opioid prescribing and alternatives to opioids. In March 2017, TCOPP received a grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to affect medical provider prescribing practices in Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties. Using this grant, TCOPP has sponsored three educational events offering Continuing Medical Education (CME) focused on safe opioid prescribing, alternatives to opioids, and medication-assisted treatment.

Safe Disposal:

The State of Colorado has a statewide medication take back program through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to collect and safely dispose of medications. This program establishes permanent household medication collection sites around the state. One of TCOPP's objectives is to increase safe disposal opportunities in the three counties. The Safe Disposal Work Group leads this work. The Work Group has identified gaps in safe disposal coverage and performed outreach to law enforcement and pharmacy locations in identified target areas to encourage increased participation in the state take back program. As of September 2018, there are 24 permanent medication disposal locations across Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties including locations participating in the statewide program and pharmacy locations with their own programs (Walgreens, Kaiser Permanente, etc.)

Harm Reduction:

TCOPP has identified a need to increase awareness of the need for naloxone (also known as Narcan, the common trade name of the nasal spray version) among family and friends of people who use opioids. In 2019, the Public Awareness Work Group will consider this effort and how to increase community knowledge about naloxone, how to get it, how to use it, and why it is so vital for everyone to have it available.

Treatment:

The Treatment Work Group is a new work group formed in October 2018. Anticipated objectives include understanding the treatment gap in the metro area and promoting strategies to increase access to, availability of, and enrollment in evidence-based treatment methods including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). There has been an overwhelming response for participation in the work group, and we anticipate an active, committed group leading to progress on objectives through 2019 and beyond.