Attorney General Phil Weiser announced a $3 million grant from Colorado’s opioid settlement funds will be used to provide free naloxone to organizations statewide.

The distribution of naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdose, is meant to help save lives by increasing access to the drug.

According to the AG’s Office, the one-time grant will be administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Overdose Prevention Unit through the Naloxone Bulk Purchase Fund.

The program will distribute naloxone to organizations serving individuals at risk of overdose, such as law enforcement agencies, harm reduction organizations and schools. Recipients may use the medication directly or distribute it within their communities.

The grant funds come from settlements secured by Weiser with drug manufacturers and distributors nationwide that “fueled the opioid crisis” according to his office.

Colorado has received $132.6 million from the drug settlements so far and is using the funds to support harm reduction, prevention, treatment and recovery efforts across the state.

“Every life lost to an opioid overdose is one too many,” Weiser said. “This funding puts a proven tool in the hands of the people who need it most. We are using every resource available to protect communities, prevent overdoses, and support recovery.”

In early April, Colorado filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for terminating $11 billion in public health funds. According to the AG’s Office, the $3 million grant will help to expand and sustain community overdose prevention efforts amidst uncertainty. The grant will allow organizations to continue to provide naloxone through June 2026.

State officials attribute a decrease in deaths involving opioids to the wider availability of naloxone and public health strategies aimed at supporting recovery.

“More than 1,600 people died from overdoses last year in Colorado. While that’s still far too many people, it is encouraging to see that deaths from overdoses decreased 14% compared to the previous year. This is why Denver Health believes harm reduction strategies, such as readily available Naloxone, are so vital to helping us prevent more deaths in our community,” said Denver Health CEO Donna Lynne.