Northern Coloradans with Substance Use Disorder Benefit from the COSLAW project

The North Colorado Health Alliance’s Colorado Opioid Synergy Larimer and Weld project (CO-SLAW) continues its mission to expand and enhance access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services for people with opioid use disorders (OUD) in Larimer and Weld Counties. Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Use Treatment, CO-SLAW is a network of substance use disorder treatment providers and care coordinators that harnesses their collective power to address the immediate and underlying factors of those living with or impacted by opioid use disorder. Now in its fourth year of work, program evaluators found that CO-SLAW members show a variety of positive outcomes.

Between program admission and six-month follow up, CO-SLAW members showed statistically significant decreases in past 30-day use of alcohol, heroin and illegal drugs. They also reported improvements in mental health, employment and housing. Member feedback of CO-SLAW was overwhelmingly positive, with over 90% of members reporting they felt welcomed and respected and had their health information kept confidential and their cultural needs understood and met. Self-referrals and referrals from family or friends made up 38% of all referrals to CO-SLAW. This higher referral rate may reflect the CO-SLAW team’s outreach and de-stigmatization efforts in the community. 

Learn more about this promising project here. 

To access treatment in Larimer and Weld Counties, call 1-844-944-7529. For mental health and substance use disorder help across Colorado, please contact Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255.