VALLEY — Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced Thursday, Sept. 29, in a press release that the first round of funds from the opioid settlement money will be disbursed to several regions and local governments.

The overall settlement is more than $18 million and will be used to combat the opioid epidemic in Colorado.

In a meeting Thursday, the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council determined the requests for funds that were compiled with approved uses in an agreement that 312 local governments signed and that outlines the ways the funds can be used. The council also asked the banking firm holding the funds to send the funds to the local regions and governments.

“The release of these funds is an important step forward in our efforts to address the opioid crisis,” said Weiser, the chair of the council, in the release.

“This crisis continues to take a toll on Coloradans. We will continue working with our regional opioid abatement councils and local governments as they work together toward a better future for all Coloradans.”

Alamosa, Saguache, Mineral, Rio Grande, Conejos and Costilla counties (Region 18) will receive $187,000. Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt, Jackson and Grand counties will receive $357,809.

Funding can be requested each year for the next 18 years and 12 of Colorado’s 19 regions chose to request funds during the first period.

Regions that have no yet requested funds can request funding on Nov. 1 and Dec. 15. After the first of each year, funding requests are due by September.

“This process and funding have brought groups together with renewed energy to serve individuals, families, and this at-risk population,” said Alamosa County Commissioner Lori Laske, member of the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council, in a release.

“I can foresee the impact on the San Luis Valley region, from bringing back prevention education to our youth to creating recovery and treatment options for the community, and I am excited to see what it does for the state.”

For more information about the council, go to coag.gov/opioids. To view more information about the funding requests and regions, please visit the Colorado opioid settlement funds framework dashboard at coag.gov/opioids/dashboard.