Denver Expands Overdose Prevention Efforts, New Funding Opportunities
Published on March 26, 2025
Denver is strengthening its efforts to prevent fatal overdoses and support individuals with substance use disorders through two new funding opportunities aimed at harm reduction and behavioral health services. These initiatives come as the city has seen an increase in overdoses, particularly those linked to fentanyl and polysubstance use.
In the past few weeks, the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) has seen an increase in nonfatal overdoses in Denver. In addition, the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner (OME) is investigating numerous fatalities that are suspected to be overdoses, though these cases are pending toxicological screening. Note, it’s too early to use medical examiner data to indicate a trend in fatal overdoses. However, so far in 2025 OME has not seen carfentanil or nitazenes in the toxicology results of decedents.
DDPHE’s overdose prevention team continues to work closely with community partners to ensure people who use drugs have access to life-saving resources, including naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and treatment options. In collaboration with community partners, DDPHE has distributed over 60,000 doses of naloxone and close to 70,000 fentanyl test strips to Denver residents since 2022.
To continue to build on this work and increase the program’s reach, two new funding opportunities are available to local organizations working to meet people where they are with overdose prevention and behavioral health support. Applications for both opportunities can be found on DDPHE’s funding opportunities page.
- Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) Grant: Funded through the CDC’s Overdose Data to Action grant, this opportunity provides approximately $1.8 million annually—totaling $9 million through 2028—to support overdose prevention education, naloxone distribution, stigma reduction, and improved data collection. Denver is seeking to fund partners to perform harm reduction and linkage to care in both the health system and harm reduction settings. Additionally, they are seeking partners to promote clinician and health systems best practices in both pain management and the identification and treatment of substance use disorders. Applications open April 1, 2025.
- Behavioral Health Services RFP: This funding opportunity will support programs that provide behavioral health services, recovery support, and stability resources for individuals with complex needs. Funding will be awarded to organizations that address mental health and substance use intakes or assessments, transitional housing with long-term housing supports/enrollment, medication-assisted treatment and more. The initiative will serve those identified by City-led initiatives and builds on existing programs like Roads to Recovery and All in Mile High. Applications are due by April 2, 2025.
People who use drugs are encouraged to utilize harm reduction techniques, including carrying naloxone, never using alone, and testing substances when possible.
While naloxone is highly effective at reversing opioid overdoses, it does not work on non-opioid substances like methamphetamine or cocaine. If someone is unresponsive and not responding to naloxone, utilize rescue breathing techniques. Administering naloxone to someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose should not cause harmful effects.
Learn more about overdose prevention in Denver.