Here at YouthZone, we’re comfortable talking about substance use and its harmful impacts on communities. One of the most pressing crises of our generation is the misuse of opioids, including the dangerous pathway from prescription pills to heroin and fentanyl.

Over the last decade, local and state governments have pursued litigation against pharmaceutical manufacturers, arguing that misleading promotion and insufficient controls contributed to this crisis. These efforts have resulted in more than $56 billion in settlements, which communities nationwide must now allocate thoughtfully. YouthZone — one of Western Colorado’s only youth-focused, trauma-informed, Medicaid-credentialed behavioral health providers — is uniquely positioned to convert these funds into Hopeful Youth, Strong Families, and Safe Communities.

For 50 years, YouthZone has partnered with municipalities, schools, law enforcement, and courts to provide court diversion, substance use education, mental health, and restorative justice services for youth across Pitkin, Garfield, Rio Blanco, and Eagle counties. We serve nearly 500 youth and more than 1,200 additional community members each year and consistently produce strong outcomes: 84% of clients do not reoffend during services, 92% complete their contracts, and 56% report measurable improvement in key life skills such as drug and alcohol refusal skills, school and community engagement, optimism and problem-solving, and trauma resilience. These aren’t just program metrics — they represent long-term cost savings for taxpayer-funded courts, schools, hospitals, and governments.

In response to growing need, YouthZone has invested heavily in its Substance Use Prevention and Intervention program over the past five years. Most youth are referred for possession of marijuana or alcohol, while many others present underlying substance use concerns regardless of referral reason. Our Medicaid and Behavioral Health Administration (BHASO) credentialed program is staffed by an incredibly talented team of five Certified Addiction Technicians, a Certified Addiction Specialist, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Licensed Addiction Counselor, all delivering evidence-based approaches such as Seeking Safety for Adolescents and Moral Reconation Therapy.

We’re proud that our work directly aligns with a vast array of approved opioid settlement fund uses. We serve court-involved or at-risk youth and their families, support individuals in treatment and recovery through stigma reduction and community partnerships, provide prevention-focused education on opioid misuse to families and community members, and maintain a highly trained workforce through ongoing certification and licensure. 

YouthZone’s recent funding successes reflect strong alignment with state and local priorities. We’ve been awarded a $220,000 grant from the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and Department of Law, leveraging opioid settlement funds to directly offset the cost of program delivery and expand access to care. At the local level, the Garfield Board of County Commissioners awarded $100,000 in opioid settlement funding in January 2026, recognizing YouthZone as a strong and appropriate partner in addressing substance use among youth.

We’re also expanding our physical capacity to meet growing demand. In partnership with the City of Rifle, we have been awarded a $750,000 Opioid Settlement Infrastructure Grant to modernize our Rifle facility, and project implementation is now underway. This investment will expand access to services across the lower Grand Valley, bring the space up to modern behavioral health standards, and support long-term community revitalization. By strengthening local infrastructure, this funding ensures that opioid settlement dollars create lasting capacity to serve youth and families well into the future.

YouthZone is one of the few organizations in Western Colorado ready to immediately translate opioid settlement dollars into meaningful, youth-centered behavioral health services. For elected officials and budget staff evaluating how to allocate these one-time funds, YouthZone offers proven impact, financial sustainability, regional reach, and deep community trust.

Opioid settlement funds represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen Colorado’s behavioral health system, and while public funding plays a critical role, lasting community impact depends on broad support. Community members who believe in prevention, early intervention, and giving young people a second chance also play an important role in sustaining this work. To support YouthZone’s programs and help expand access to care for local youth and families, please consider donating at http://www.YouthZone.com/give. With the right investments, we can ensure that rural communities have the capacity needed to support youth and families for years to come.

YouthZone Deputy Development Director Ali Naaseh-Shahry is a Colorado native who holds degrees in international public policy from the University of Colorado (BA) and University College London (MSc). He moved to western Colorado in 2015 to teach six-and-under ski school at the Aspen Skiing Company. Ali has taught a wide variety of academic and experiential subjects to people of all ages. Most recently, he worked as a special education teacher with the Roaring Fork School District, where he used data-driven decision making to improve his delivery of specialized instruction. Ali enjoys lift-access powder skiing, raft-access fly fishing, and spending time with his cats.