Mental Health Colorado Proposes Policies, Offers Resources for Recovery Month

DENVER, Sept. 6, 2018—More than 67,000 Coloradans do not get the substance use services they need—enough to fill the Red Rocks Amphitheater seven times. Mental Health Colorado is kicking off National Recovery Month by proposing policy priorities for the next legislative session, sharing resources and emphasizing stories of hope.

Twenty-eight of Colorado’s 64 counties do not have a substance use or mental health treatment facility. Mental Health Colorado is working to ensure people get the substance use services they need when they need them.

“Addiction isn’t a character flaw; it’s a medical condition, and it doesn’t have to be a death sentence—it’s treatable,” said Mental Health Colorado President & CEO Andrew Romanoff.

The proposed policy priorities include enforcing laws that require insurance companies to cover mental and physical health equally and increasing the availability of mental health and substance use services in schools. All six priorities are outlined at www.mentalhealthcolorado.org/policy.

Substance use disorder resources are listed at www.mentalhealthcolorado.org/home/sud.

Mental Health Colorado is the state’s leading advocate for the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and an affiliate of Mental Health America.

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