SouthWest Opioid Response District (SWORD)

Region 17 Opioid Abatement Council | SouthWest Opioid Response District

In 2021 the Colorado Attorney General's Office (COAG) won settlements against opioid manufacturers and distributors. SWORD was formed as a regional partnership to receive and manage the funds allocated to Montezuma, La Plata, Archuleta, San Juan, and Dolores counties, and several municipalities therein. The Region 9 Economic Development District (Region 9) acts as the Facilitator for the SWORD Council. Under the Colorado MOU, SWORD’s role is to deploy opioid settlement funds in alignment with the Exhibit E list of approved uses.

Council Membership

The SWORD Council is made up of voting (council) and non-voting (advisory) members. Current membership can be seen on the SWORD Roster.

In accordance with the established bylaws, the council’s voting members are made up of: one representative appointed by each county, one representative appointed from a rotating city/town within each county, at least one representative from each public health department within the region, at least one representative from a county human services department within the region, at least one representative appointed from law enforcement within the region.

In accordance with SWORD governing documents and the Colorado MOU, no single county or city/town should dominate the make-up of the Regional Council, and to the extent practicable, each Voting Member shall reside, or be employed by, a different city/town within the counties.

The term of a voting and non-voting member is two years. The term of executive members is one year.

Colorado County Map with Counties of Dolores, San Juan, Montezuma, La Plata, and Archuleta highlighted

Meetings

Meetings occur on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 2:30 p.m. via Zoom.

For other materials not listed below and for additional information, please contact the Project Manager, Claire West.

SWORD Community Engagement

To be included on our mailing list, become a member, connect with the SWORD Council, or inform the SWORD of your interest in applying for regional settlement funds, please complete this Interest Form (opens new window).

What Can Opioid Settlement Funds Be Used For?

For SWORD’s 2026–2027 2-year strategic plan, 82% of available funds have been allocated to address specific priority projects with the intent of addressing identified gaps in the regional recovery and care ecosystem that align with approved sub-uses. Below are the priority projects aligned with approved uses:

Table detailing approved uses of funds under categories :Support People in Treatment and Recovery; Treat Opioid Use Disorder; Address Needs of the Criminal Justice Involved Persons; Connections to Care; and Prevent Misuse of Opioids

SWORD may only deploy funds aligned with the Colorado MOU. Below is additional information and guidance from the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council (COAC):

Opioid Abatement Approved Purposes, Exhibit E

Supplantation is not an “Approved Purpose” for Opioid Settlement Funds (opens PDF)

Law Enforcement Approved Uses for Opioid Settlement Fund (PDF)

Guidance for investing opioid settlement funds in primary prevention by the Partnership to End Addiction (PDF)

A National Roadmap for Spending Opioid Settlement Funds in 2026: Supporting Communities & Ending the Overdose Crisis (website, see the full report)