Colorado Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs

Addiction Treatment Centers in Colorado

As of March 2019, more than 52,000 people were receiving drug rehab at 408 facilities in Colorado, according to SAMHSA. Broken down by type of facility, these include

In addition, these facilities can be broken down by the demographics they serve: As of 2019, they served at least 19 specific demographics with specialized services. Some of the biggest demographics served include adolescents to adults, pregnant and postpartum women to seniors, veterans to members of the LGBT community.

Colorado Drug Rehab Breakdown

• Demographic Breakdown (By percentage of drug rehab facilities):
• Patients with co-occurring mental health disorders: 60 percent
• Adult women: 59.6 percent
• Adult men: 54.7 percent
• Adolescents: 35.3 percent
• Seniors: 32.4 percent
• Patients who have suffered domestic abuse: 30.1 percent
• Pregnant or postpartum women: 29.9 percent
• LGBT community members: 27.5 percent
• Veterans: 21.8 percent
• Active duty military: 13.7 percent
• Payment Options Breakdown (By percentage of drug rehab facilities):
• Cash or self-payment: 97.1 percent
• Sliding fee: 66.4 percent
• Medicaid: 56.4 percent
• Private insurance: 52.7 percent
• Minimal charge or no-charge treatment for patients in need: 33.8 percent
• Federal military insurance: 33.6 percent
• Medicare: 27 percent
• ITU funds: 4.9 percent
• Free treatment:1.5 percent

Thanks to this diversity in services and payment options, Colorado is a desirable place for finding the right treatment program for those seeking to overcome addictions.

Treatment Approaches in Colorado

12 Step

With 41.4 percent of drug rehab facilities in Colorado offering 12-step facilitation, Colorado is generally well-equipped to provide patients with the structured support that can help them maintain their recoveries even after they leave more intensive programs. 12-step programs offer patients 12 principles to guide their recovery, such as acknowledging their addiction as a problem, relying on a higher power, and making amends. Based on regular community meetings, supportive structure, and 12 principles, these programs had an 18-month abstinence rate that was twice that experienced by individuals who did not attend a program, according to one study of veterans.

Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring

A dual diagnosis, or co-occurring illness, refers to the existence of a substance abuse disorder and a mental illness in a single patient. According to SAMHSA reporting, individuals who suffer from mental illness are much more likely to also experience a substance abuse disorder. As of 2019, 9.5 million people fit the criteria for a dual diagnosis, according to a SAMHSA report, a number that was 300,000 more than the previous year. In Colorado, 60 percent of facilities tailor their services to individuals who have a dual diagnosis in order to better meet their often complex treatment needs.

Detox

Patients in active addiction must first allow the addictive substances to leave their bodies before they can pursue further rehab. Called detox, this process is often safest when completed in a dedicated facility with medical supervision that ensures the safety, health, and comfort of the patient. In Colorado, detox services are most common in an outpatient setting, with 6.1 percent of facilities providing outpatient detox. However, this service is also available in the residential and hospital settings.

Short-Term Inpatient Rehab

Short-term residential rehab refers to live-in programs and intensive, round-the-clock addiction treatment that lasts for less than 30 days. In Colorado, 6.6 percent of drug rehab facilities offers this type of recovery program, designed for treatment of difficult addictions.

Long-Term Residential Rehab

Long-term residential rehab refers to programs where patients live at the facility for more than 30 days in order to receive intensive treatment for complex addictions. In Colorado, 9.1 percent of drug rehab facilities offer this type of recovery program.

Rehab Costs In Colorado

A variety of factors can affect the cost of rehab for patients in Colorado. Because treatment is so individual, so are expenses. Here are a few factors that affect the exact cost of recovery for patients:

• Rehab program
• Therapy
• Aftercare
• Treatment approaches
• Insurance coverage
• And more

In Colorado, patients have several options for paying for their rehab, while patients who cannot afford rehab can take advantage of free and reduced-cost options within the state. About a third of facilities in the state cater to patients who cannot pay for their treatment.

Private Health Insurance for Addiction Rehab

Patients who hold private insurance can expect to have their insurance cover at least some of the costs of rehab in Colorado. The exact coverage varies, depending upon the patient's exact insurance plan and course of treatment, however, insurance companies can provide exact details regarding the co-pays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses patients will face. In Colorado, 52.7 percent of facilities accept private health insurance.

Medicaid and Medicare for Addiction Rehab

Residents of Colorado who meet certain income thresholds may qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. These federal programs are designed to provide healthcare for individuals and families who cannot afford insurance on their own and often cover drug rehab in full. 56.4 percent of facilities in the state accept Medicaid, while 27 percent accept Medicare.

Uninsured Addiction Rehab

Not every patient in Colorado has insurance coverage. For these patients, Colorado offers a few facilities that cater to their needs. Options for uninsured patients include the following:

Sliding Scale Payments

A full two-thirds of rehab facilities in Colorado (66.4 percent) offer their services on a sliding scale. This means that these facilities offer discounts on their services based upon a patient's income. The lower their income, the greater the discount they receive.

Free drug rehab

1.5 percent of addiction recovery facilities in Colorado provide free treatment for all patients, while a third (33.8 percent) of facilities offer their services for no charge or minimal charge for patients who cannot pay. These facilities may use payment plans, or outside funding and grants to enable their free services.

The best way for patients to identify the right program for their needs is to call an addiction counselor at any of the state's facilities. These professionals can offer evaluations, guidance, and advice about programs that are both effective and affordable for each patient's specific needs.

Colorado Drug Treatment Overview

Colorado's drug treatment facilities offer many advantages for patients struggling with addiction, but these programs have both pros and cons. Here are some of them:

Pros

The utilization rate of the designated drug rehab beds in the state is only 86 percent, indicating that there is likely to be availability for patients who require services.

Colorado offers treatment support throughout every stage of patients' recovery, including assessment, treatment, transitional services, recovery support, and even ancillary services, such as social skills development. All of these services increase patients' ability to succeed over the long-term.

94.1 percent of facilities offer cognitive rehab therapy in order to support patients' mental health and ability to maintain their recovery long-term.

Many facilities in the state offer Spanish-speaking counselors to patients, making it easier for the state's 12 percent of Spanish speakers to access rehab in their preferred language.

Cons

Colorado's detox services are very sparse, with fewer than 10 percent of facilities offering this service, regardless of whether they are outpatient, inpatient, or hospital-based. This could make it more difficult for patients to successfully take the very first step toward rehab.

More than half of the state's addiction recovery programs (55.1 percent) are classified as private, for-profit facilities, which could drive up the costs of rehab in Colorado.

Residential rehab facilities are lacking, with just 13.1 percent of the facilities in the state qualifying.

Paying for rehab could be difficult for some patients, due to low levels of private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and military insurance acceptance.

Colorado Drug Use Statistics

As are many other states, Colorado is seeing an increase in the number of drug overdose deaths, due in part to the pressures and isolation created by the pandemic. Here are some of the most striking facts about drug use in the state:

From the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

• Drug overdose deaths rose from 1,072 in 2019 to 1,477 in 2020.
• In 2020, 956 of these deaths were due to opioids.

From the SAMHSA:

• 69,699 individuals over the age of 12 were admitted for substance abuse treatment in Colorado in 2020.
• 18.3 percent of these admissions were for amphetamines.
• 12.8 percent of these admissions were for heroin.
• Only 4.1 percent of these admissions were for other opiates.
• 39.3 percent of admissions, the largest percent, were for individuals between 26 and 35 years of age.