Dylan Roberts
What counties do you represent? If this is a statewide office, please put statewide.
I currently represent Eagle and Routt Counties as State Representative for House District 26. The seat I am running for, State Senate District 8, is comprised of the following counties: Clear Creek, Eagle, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Moffat, Jackson, Rio Blanco, Routt, and Summit.
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?
Just this legislative session, we made the largest investment in behavioral health in Colorado history as part of the Behavioral Health Task Force. In particular, we laid forth a bill, HB-1283, which invests $54 million to support intensive youth and family residential and outpatient care, ensuring that Colorado’s children, youth, and families can access behavioral health treatment and services they need. We must continue to prioritize behavioral and mental health to foster safe communities across the state, and I’d look forward to playing a key role in this endeavor if elected to the Colorado Senate.
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.
My current State House District and the State Senate District I am running for are not immune to mental health and substance use issues that are prevalent throughout the state – and the country. Individuals and families in my district are worried about their future: the impacts of climate change are felt most acutely on the Western Slope, the price of essentials like housing, healthcare, prescription drugs, and child care have driven people out of our communities, and the future of our individual liberties are under constant threat. Not only will I continue treating investments in mental health and substance use as a priority, I’ll continue passing bold legislation to get at the root of my constituents’ concerns. This includes writing and passing bills that will combat climate change, wildfire, and drought, so our way of life is protected along with our local economies, paired with legislation intending to decrease the cost of housing, healthcare and prescription drugs, childcare, among other essential goods and services. In protecting our individual liberties, since the Dobbs decision made by the Supreme Court this June that has been a major concern in my district, I’ve promised my constituents that I will stand up for them and support legislation that protects their personal freedoms, including their right to marry who they wish and their right to accessible reproductive healthcare. While we can build off of last legislative session’s historic work in the area of mental health and treating substance use, there is more work to be done to continue resolving some of the underlying issues that drive challenges with mental health and substance use disorders.
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?
Colorado’s ERPO law has proven to be an effective life-saving tool against gun violence and death. It has been used in rare circumstances in order to help people who are a risk to themselves or others and has been used mostly by law enforcement and occasionally, by concerned family members of people who are going through mental health problems, having suicidal thoughts, or are threatening those around them.
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)
Yes
Would you like to explain your response to question #4?
I would actually answer: “it depends on the drug.” The Legislature needs to continue equipping communities grappling with overdose deaths by supplying evidence-based public health strategies, including increased inventory of life-saving Narcan to help reduce overdose deaths, mental and behavioral resources to address root causes of use and addiction, and treatment for substance use disorders.
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?
Fentanyl overdoses and poisonings are killing far too many of our loved ones and devastating our communities. A drug of this lethality requires solutions that treat this crisis with the gravity it demands. As a former Deputy District Attorney, I’ve seen firsthand how devastating the possession and distribution of lethal drugs are in our communities – families lose loved ones and promising lives are heart wrenchingly cut short. Increasing the criminal penalty for possession of any substance over 1g that includes any amount of fentanyl will play a role in targeting distribution networks of this lethal drug, cutting off its supply and transit, and in turn, help save lives.
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.
Access to affordable and accessible housing is now more of a physical health and mental health issue than it ever has been. Having an affordable place to call home is essential to good mental health, and the overall wellbeing of our communities. As Chair of the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force, I would like to see more funding allocated towards housing so we can provide the safety, comfort, and peace of mind for those who are struggling with mental health and substance use. Further, With the alarming rate of youth suicide over the last decade, I believe we need to allocate more funding towards behavioral health investments for Colorado youth and more investments towards mental health professionals in our schools.” We took massive steps on this front this year with SB22-147, School and Pediatric Behavioral Health Care Integrations, but there is clearly more work to be done, and I look forward to being a partner throughout these efforts.
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?
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Thank you for everything you do. It has been a pleasure to work with Mental Health Colorado during my time in the legislature and I look forward to our important work together ahead.
