Colorado’s Statewide Strategic Plan for Substance Use Disorder Recovery: 2020-2025

Mental Health Colorado staff members contributing to this report:
• Nancy VanDeMark
• Emily Costello

Colorado now has a strategic plan to reorient systems, clinical care, and communities to promote substance use disorder recovery.

An estimated 400,000 Coloradans are in recovery from substance use disorders, and each has a unique story. Their stories and experiences demonstrate that recovery services such as peer supports and employment can provide hope along the recovery journey.

Colorado has an urgent need to reorient its clinical and data systems, funding, and community supports to promote recovery.

The Colorado Health Institute conducted a landscape and gap analysis and identified specific opportunities for the state to strengthen its efforts on behalf of people in recovery from substance use disorders. The analysis identified:

  • System needs for a common language, definitions, and standardized data collection to promote a recovery-oriented system of care;
  • Clinical needs to prepare health care providers with recovery-inclusive language and recovery resources for their patients; and
  • Community needs to equip neighborhoods and towns with a range of recovery support services for their residents.

View the full plan here.