Kathryn Green

What counties do you represent? If this is a statewide office, please put statewide.

Fremont, Custer, Teller, Part of Chaffee, Part of Pueblo COunty

Have you or someone you loved ever experienced a mental health and/or substance use condition?

Yes

Question #1: Colorado, like the rest of the nation, is facing a youth mental health crisis. Do you support school policies and funding that increase the availability of mental health services and supports in schools and early childhood settings?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #1?

Young people need to learn coping strategies to get through a mental health crisis. Coping is a learned skill not an instinct.

Question #2: Do you believe mental health and substance use are serious issues your constituents are experiencing that deserve legislative attention and action? Please explain.

Mental Health and substance use are pervasive in Colorado. We need to expand services and help with withdrawal and medicating mental health problems

Question #3: Extreme risk protection orders, also known as red flag laws, allow law enforcement to temporarily remove weapons from individuals at significant risk to themselves or others. Colorado has a red flag law.  Do you support extreme risk protection orders?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #3?

When someone is not thinking clearly, the choices they make are not rational. Having a weapon readily available may allow them to make the choice to use it.

Question #4: Overdose deaths are at an all-time high nationally and in Colorado. Many believe increasing criminal penalties for people who use drugs is the answer. Do you support increased criminal penalties for people who use drugs? *
(*Please note that we are asking about personal use, not distribution)      

Increased criminal penalties for personal use of narcotics is not the effective method to help persons who use only for personal use. Increased help with addiction so that addicts can “kick the habit” and get their lives on track is the better solution.

Would you like to explain your response to question #4?

Increased penalties will not solve the addiction problem, because it won’t solve the addiction. We need treatment in prison for those who need to be there, and diversion programs for people who do not.

Question # 5: As a follow up question, did you support legislation in the 2022 session that drastically increased the criminal penalty for possession of any substance over 1g if that substance contains any amount of fentanyl?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #5?

When Fentanyl is introduced into other drugs, or used on its own the chance of overdose is very high.

Question #6: Do you believe the State should invest more funding for mental health and substance use? If yes, please explain where you would want additional funding to be directed. If no, please explain why.

Yes. I need to learn more about where this help is most needed, but I will support any reasonable legislation to spend this money.

Question #7: People needing care, supports, and services for their mental health and substance use often experience discrimination as a result of their health condition. Would you support legislation that would protect people needing care, supports, and services for their mental health and substance use conditions from discriminatory practices?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #7?

Once someone has recovered from addiction, or completed their mental health treatment, then I would want this information treated like the HIPPA information for other medical conditions.

Question #8: For too long the state’s criminal justice system has acted as a substitute for a comprehensive mental health care system. Would you support policies that would disentangle mental health from the criminal justice system and promote the expansion of programs like Denver’s STAR program?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #8?

Imprisoning people with mental health issues only keeps them off the streets while they are imprisoned. Not dealing with the mental health issues means that when the prisoners are released they are back in the same negative cycle.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Ever since the Federal Government withdrew help for persons with mental health problems, there has not been any comprehensive program to help these people.