different measures to address the problem.
Addressing Substance Abuse
A set of bills was recently introduced by Colorado legislators who hope to tackle drug abuse as well as the many facets of the opioid epidemic that have been affecting the state and particularly its metropolitan areas.
With these bills, the legislators have proposed several measures such as expanding the needle-exchange programs currently implemented and creating supervised injection facilities for intravenous drug users across Denver.
Other steps that are being taken by the city include pursuing federal waivers to let Medicaid cover addiction treatment and limiting prescriptions of opioid painkillers to no more than a week supply — unless doctors consider a more extensive supply to be absolutely necessary.
Denver policymakers have also advised that more measures are expected to be implemented before the end of the year.
Author: Livia Areas-Holmblad
Livia Holmblad is an editor at Addiction Now and covers breaking news, features and everything in between. She moved to SoCal after living in NYC for about 10 years, where she worked for VICE and SinoVision as a writer, editor, host, producer, and director. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. Contact Livia at liviah@addictionnow.com
