Meg Froelich

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

Arapahoe and Denver

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

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?

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.

I hear every day from my constituents about the seriousness of mental and behavioral health challenges.I don’t have to have personal experience in this area to feel the importance of this in my bones.

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?

Proud to co-sponsor our Red Flag bill and to support and carry other Gun Violence Prevention measures. We have a newly formed Gun Violence Prevention Caucus that will be formalized after the election.

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)*

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

It is tragic that the path to treatment is limited to those in the criminal justice system.

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?

I supported that legislation for a few reasons: The Governor was on record as wanting the possession amount for prosecution to be set at 0, I wanted the treatment and testing $$ to be appropriated, the Chair of the Black Caucus was in support, and finally the Republican legislator leading the opposition (Rep Carver) said she spoke to her DAs and that they said it was uninforecable.

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.

Well we have made a start but the need is great. We have increased the number of inpatient beds but it remains incredibly difficult to access treatment outside of the criminal justice system. We are impacted by a shortage of Mental and Behavioral Healthcare workers, I would support additional stipends or loan forgiveness for people entering the profession. I also have been advocating for more supportive housing as we invest in housing and as we address our unhoused population.

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?

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?

Denver’s STAR program is a model but is not working as it should, so yes, but only with transparency and accountability.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I am trying to be supportive of the good work in my House District – Stride has a great MAT program, Mile High Behavioral Health is doing good work and has opened our first in the State Trans specific healthcare center. The Tri Cities of Englewood, Sheridan and Littleton are trying to work on helping our unhoused down at the personal, individual level, connecting people with services tailored to their particular situation. And then I am trying to connect the good work with state grants. This issue is very important to me and to my constituents, my friends and my neighbors