Marijuana Tax Fund: Evaluation of Diversion Substance Use Prevention Efforts

Eight juvenile diversion programs across Colorado leveraged funding from the state’s Marijuana Tax Cash Fund to expand support for youth experiencing substance use. These initiatives aimed to strengthen access to screening, assessment, and treatment services by investing in three key areas: training staff to more effectively support youth using substances, funding personnel dedicated to these services, and directly enhancing or expanding the services available to young people.

To assess the impact of these investments, Omni analyzed how many youth were screened for substance use in each program and compared those figures to data from the previous year. This helped determine whether more youth were not only being screened, but also receiving assessment or treatment when needed. Omni also reviewed pre- and post-survey results to track shifts in youth behavior, measuring changes in risky behavioral intentions and improvements in feelings of community connection and personal accountability.

Beyond the program-level outcomes, Omni examined the broader picture by comparing the overall state recidivism rate to historical data. This helped assess whether expanded access to substance use services might be contributing to long-term reductions in reoffending among youth—a promising sign of lasting impact.

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