Colorado has developed an unfortunate reputation for its rates of drug abuse, addiction, and poor mental health treatment. As addiction and substance abuse is on the rise taking the lives of countless members of each community, the demand for locations near you in Colorado addiction treatment is a growing necessity across the country.
The State of Colorado Substance Abuse Trend and Response Task Force reports that in 2017, there were more than 40,000 admissions to addiction treatment facilities in the state. In 2015, it was reported that 2.9% of the population or 128,000 residents had an illegal drug dependency. That portion of the population is more than the entire number of people residing in Westminster, CO, in 2020.
Many people who need treatment for drug abuse and addiction do not seek out treatment, so this number is likely not a true indicator of how many people are actually impacted by addiction in Colorado. We can only confirm that the total is much higher, meaning the need for Colorado addiction treatment centers and their services is now at an all-time high.
Alcohol is the substance cited most often as the primary drug of choice at admission, most likely due to its availability. However, both methamphetamine and heroin indicators are on the rise, as they made up 40 percent of all treatment admissions in 2017.
Those between the ages of 26 and 34 hold the highest numbers of death due to heroin according to the Colorado Health Institute. Additionally, the Colorado Hospital Association found that between 2011 and 2015, the percentage of emergency room visits due to heroin usage increased by 148.1% than in previous slots of time.
New legislature is opening up access to care for Coloradans, as several new laws will positively impact mental health in 2019. Per the provisions, money will be allocated for support and housing services, such as sober living homes and opioid addiction treatment will be expanded into rural communities. This allows for Colorado addiction treatment resources to expand on their ability to reach out and assist more of those in desperate need of detox and rehabilitation amenities.
As new challenges arise for substance abuse, nearby Colorado addiction treatment centers are constantly being adjusted to fit the needs of the substance-dependent community. Additionally, parity laws will be implemented that ensure mental health and addiction treatment are covered the same as other medical treatments under both private insurance and Medicaid.
Reaching out for help when you have a substance dependency can make the difference between life and death. Unfortunately, many addicts have distanced themselves so far away from any support system that they feel as if there is no one to lean on emotionally when addiction has gotten out of hand. Repairing these relationships is part of the recovery process and may be the most influential part of healing after addiction.
Something to remember when making the decision to seek addiction help from a nearby Colorado addiction treatment facility is that addiction is a disease. Addiction is a disease that should be treated just like any other illness. There is help, and today is the day that can make the choice to take your life back from drug or alcohol abuse.
The first step to overcoming addiction is deciding that you are ready to get help. Within that commitment, it is important to determine the type of treatment that you need. These steps are a way to build up your support system with the help of the Colorado addiction treatment programs that are already put in place to assist you. In 2016, 912 deaths resulted from substance abuse alone. Of those 912 dead, 504 of them were directly opioid-related.
Along with getting the help from nearby Colorado addiction treatment rehabilitation centers that know how to cater to the needs of the local addiction community, being prepared to make some of the following changes will ensure you are fully equipped to free yourself. To finally be free from the grasp of substance abuse long term.
Out of the 15,000,000 American teens over 18 years of age that were struggling with an alcohol or drug abuse disease, only slightly more than 6.5% reached out to get the addiction treatment that they needed.
Whether it be embarrassment, shame, or pride, this can be a difficult obstacle to overcome for anyone, especially an addict. Many drug and alcohol abusers are in denial. Oftentimes, it does not only come down to admitting that they have a problem but also admitting that they have no control over the situation. I’m sure you’ve heard the line “I can stop whenever I want to,” or “Every once in a while, is okay,” or even “It’s my choice, I am in control.” Some of us have even used these lines ourselves. The question remains, who are you trying to convince? Most often, the answer to that question is: yourself.
The fact of the matter is, you are not in control when you are struggling with substance abuse. It is okay to admit that. First, you must admit that to yourself. Once you do this very important step, the door is open to the very real experience of living a full and healthy sober life. A life unchained to the substances that have been holding you back from real happiness.
Next is where you overcome the fear of letting in those that want to see you succeed in this journey of rehabilitation and recovery. Whether you turn to family members, close friends, group members, or professional medical staff, it is important to remember that having a support system to cheer you on can and will be important.
More often than not, those that love you will be proud that you are starting this journey. They genuinely want the best for you, and at the very least, will lend you an ear when discussing the road ahead. Reaching out for help is a sign of personal strength and commitment to getting treatment.
Colorado comes in the ranks at 9 out of the 51 states battling with drug and alcohol abuse problems. It is the 4th highest percentage of adult drug abusers in our nation. With those kinds of statistics, Colorado addiction treatment options have grown in number to meet the demands of its citizens, developing more and more local options for those ready to stand up to their addictions.
Also, if you find that someone struggling with substance abuse reaches out to you, be sure to take them seriously and receive this information with compassion and understanding, devoid of judgment, as it takes courage to come forward and discuss this disease.
Our team at Footprints to Recovery in Colorado consists of licensed psychologists, master’s level clinicians, and wellness experts focused on helping individuals overcome addiction. We partner with program participants to identify the therapeutic treatments that best fit address patients’ drug and alcohol abuse, as well as underlying emotional or psychological triggers for the destructive behavior.
Our drug rehab in Colorado is an in-network provider with Humana and TRICARE. Through our partnership with TRICARE, we provide drug and alcohol treatment to active duty, retired and reserve military personnel, as well as their beneficiaries around the country.
Through what may have felt like trial and error, by now you’ve surely come to recognize who will best support you through rehab and recovery. Letting this support system know what you need from them and expect from your relationship will encourage communication and keep you on the same page. Let them know when you will need them the most and what will be the most difficult hurdles to overcome.
If you are unsure of how to open up these lines of communication, Colorado addiction treatment counselors and therapy programs can give you insight on how to approach your loved ones. They will guide you through your feelings and potential conversations, helping develop confidence in the choice to seek help for addiction.
Now is the time when you have to ask yourself whether the people and places that you find yourself gravitating toward are helping or hurting your rehabilitation. Specifically, will they have a positive or negative influence on you as you make the necessary life changes?
Negative, condescending, or tempting individuals will only slow down or invalidate the hard work you are putting forth to better your life and the lives of those that matter to you. That is not to say that they don’t care, just that they may not be the best candidates to lean on in these vulnerable times of your treatment.
Instead, put yourself in a position where you find yourself surrounded by positive and encouraging people and experiences that truly have your best interests at heart. You should never have to feel bad when putting distance between those that encourage or enable your substance abuse and yourself.
Also, without question, there is someone hoping to see you accomplish rehabilitation and take back control of your life. Remember, this is your personal journey and life experience. You need to consider what is best for you and make the appropriate changes.
There is no question that you will have to make some changes to give yourself the best chance of achieving and maintaining sobriety. That said, it is important to take this step seriously. This rehabilitation and recovery journey will require you to dig deep and develop your self-awareness and personal desires for growth.
For some, the idea of doing that resonated with feelings of loneliness and isolation. Especially after distancing yourself from some family and friends that could have a negative impact on your rehabilitation, you may feel very impacted by this lessening of your social circle.
Colorado addiction treatment facilities near you are aware of this impact and encourage meetings and group therapy that will fill in the blanks with positive and like-minded community members. Meetings and groups are held throughout Colorado’s communities, and finding a local group with people that have the same interests can be very encouraging. You are not alone, and you don’t have to let yourself feel that way. There are many people in your own Colorado community who are feeling similar to the way you may be feeling and are part of the treatment groups that are required to maintain a sober lifestyle.
Attending regular meetings and discussing thoughts and feelings with those who are on this journey with you is a healthy way to develop new routines and behaviors. 12-step programs and activity groups are an excellent way to open up, communicate, and stay on track, whether in your strongest or weakest moments. Having a comfortable place to vent or share experiences without being subject to judgment is essential to the healing process.
Oftentimes as addicts, we think that by totally uprooting our lives and heading quickly in the opposite direction, this will be the miracle answer. But consider this: Addiction is a disease. Just like any other disease, it takes time to manage and adjust not just to our surroundings, but to the lifestyle that will keep us as healthy as possible and on the right track. Immersing yourself in a new relationship or job is simply putting a band-aid over the underlying illness of addiction, which will leave it to be addressed later. This is not what rehabilitation and recovery is about.
Colorado addiction treatment counselors nearby, put in place targeted programs that focus on self-confidence and respect, which will take time to learn and adapt to. These skills are also important in regard to employment, relationships, or any kind of commitment for that matter, and take practice and patience to fully appreciate. Jumping headfirst into a big new experience can trigger stress responses.
Unfortunately, the majority of addicts find themselves reaching out for substances to lessen the stress, and this could lead to relapse, having to begin your recovery journey once again. Take one lesson and experience at a time and give yourself patience and time to adjust.
Finally, it is important to stay focused on the big picture. Undoubtedly, addiction has brought some sort of chaos to your life, or at least negatively impacted your environment in a harsh way. Respectfully, we need to remember that this did not develop overnight. Because addiction has intertwined itself into every little space of your daily life, there will be many things that need to be tweaked and relearned. Consider how your addiction impacted your feelings of going to work, getting your paycheck, around family gatherings, or social events.
Most of the things that we do throughout our daily lives revolve around our next drink, how to be sneaky, or how to allocate enough money for our addiction and still stay afloat. This way, once we achieve sobriety, we will have learned the skills and now to maintain living sober.
The State of Colorado Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) acts as the Single State Authority (SSA) that oversees mental health and addiction treatment services within the state. OBH operates two state-funded mental health hospitals, contracts with community-based behavioral health providers, and regulates and supports the public behavioral health system. Public services are open to eligible all residents and are even available those without insurance or the ability to pay for treatment.
The Colorado Crisis Service provides a hotline, text line, online chat, and walk-in options for immediate help and support as well as referral services at no charge.
This allows an addict to pursue their rehabilitation and recovery a way to be in constant contact, and to have local assistance available at all times. You can use these confidential services at any time to get information and immediate personal support for assistance in Colorado addiction treatment. The searchable online directory LADDERS (Licensing and Designation Database and Electronic Records System) can connect you with local substance abuse treatment providers as well.
There are 17 Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and 27 Behavioral Health Care Entities that are Colorado Behavioral Health Council (CBHC) member organizations contracted with the state to provide services to residents. Nearby Colorado addiction treatment programs take dual diagnosis seriously.
Dual diagnosis refers to addicts that have underlying psychological conditions that run parallel to or can reinforce addiction and substance abuse. For example, someone who is self-medicating or abusing their anxiety or depression medication can fall into this category.
Many times, Colorado addiction treatment specialists find that depression is likely to come before addiction. Oftentimes, someone suffering from depression will reach out to illegal substances or alcohol abuse to numb the pain or dissatisfaction. That said, treating addiction as a standalone illness without addressing the underlying mental health issues first leads to higher rates of relapse.
It has been found that about 20% of Americans that have been diagnosed and are suffering from anxiety and depression have come forth with a substance abuse problem.
Behavioral health in Colorado is most definitely looking up. There are some great local options for substance abuse and care within Colorado addiction treatment plans.
Substance abuse and addiction, as well as the road to recovery, is a very individual journey. Because of that, getting addiction treatment will need to be specific to each individual’s needs. What works for some will not be the same treatment that is best for another. Finding the right programs that target your needs best will give you the advantage when getting a handle on substance abuse. Colorado addiction treatment centers, such as Footprints to Recovery, incorporate many different programs and options to fit your personal needs.
These can be offered in either an inpatient or outpatient setting. They may use medications to balance brain chemistry, lessen withdrawal symptoms, and combat cravings. Regardless of which type of treatment you require; Detox is a standard starting point.
Offered in a variety of settings, outpatient care provides a flexible and often cost-effective option if you have a supportive home environment and need to continue to attend to daily life while receiving care. If you don’t have a safe home environment, you can move into a sober living home (see below) and receive outpatient treatment. This option offered by Colorado addiction treatment centers allows for an addict to continue caring for children, attending school or participating in work obligations.
Residential treatment can provide you with a high level of care, offering a structured environment and schedule as well as 24/7 care. This treatment option gives you an opportunity to remove outside temptation and influence in order to fully focus on the skills needed for rehabilitation and prolonged sobriety.
If your living environment is not ideal for recovery, yet you don’t quite need inpatient treatment, you may want to consider a sober living environment that can provide you with recovery support. OBH provides funding for some recovery support services in Colorado to help with long-term recovery maintenance.
Sober living/ Peer-based- recovery support groups can enhance recovery and offer ongoing encouragement. Groups such as Colorado Narcotics Anonymous (NA Colorado) and Area 10 Colorado (Colorado AA) offer 12-step peer support programs with many local groups and meetings.
Nonprofit organizations in Colorado also offer community outreach, prevention, and treatment services within local communities.
There are many local opportunities available to you to start your journey today. AA meetings are available as well as many others. Below is a list of some of the opportunities for networking within Colorado addiction treatment communities.
Footprints to Recovery — located in Centennial outside of Denver, Colorado — nurtures a safe environment in which our patients can safely recover from drugs and alcohol.
By treating all physical and psychological conditions concurrently, we set up our patients for lasting sobriety. What’s more, we help participants strike a balance between their recovery and other responsibilities. This is done by offering numerous types of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, including partial hospitalization and outpatient treatment. Especially important for those with dual diagnosis, incorporating different treatment tools into your program ensures that you are addressing all of the areas in your life that contribute to addiction or substance abuse.
Allowing for mental health treatment simultaneously within rehabilitation is a noteworthy feature of Colorado addiction treatment centers available to you.
At Footprints to Recovery, we provide all the necessary tools and resources for your journey to sobriety. Our treatment center in Colorado near you, offers highly specialized, individualized treatment for all different types of addictions and co-occurring conditions. You don’t have to live your life with addiction any longer.
Your rehabilitation and recovery do not have to wait another day to begin. Reach out today to get in touch with a member of our staff looking forward to getting you started today. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
