Until 2004, Colorado was one of the fastest-growing states in the Union, with a young and trendy population. This, coupled with the state’s wide-open spaces and network of interstate highways, makes it a major crossroads for drug smuggling, with a widespread problem of illicit drug abuse. Cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine top the list (after alcohol), as shown in the chart below. The war on drugs is making a small dent, according to “Patterns and Trends in Drug Abuse in Denver and Colorado: January-December 2007,” but usually only by driving confirmed addicts from one drug to another (powder cocaine rather than crack; different opiates instead of heroin). And most addicts struggle with addiction for an average of ten years before finally seeking treatment.

As of December 2008, there were 443 treatment facilities, both public and private, licensed for drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation in Colorado. Only 37% of these were private, non-profit facilities and 8% were publicly funded. Only 11% offered programs for treatment of opiate addiction. Families seeking treatment for a particular addiction problem, therefore, should carefully evaluate all drug and alcohol treatment programs and facilities in their area to ascertain whether they have experience with the type of problem and the type of program required to successfully treat it. Most Colorado rehabilitation centers (94%) offer outpatient programs. As of 2008, 68 offered residential programs, which typically offer a people seeking treatment a means of removing themselves entirely from the “street” or the enabling environment to focus solely on recovery.

As seen in the chart above, alcoholism remains a major focus of treatment in Colorado. Drug rehabilitation centers are noting a decline in admissions for alcohol, from about 69% of all admissions in 1992 to 62% in 2003. However, drug-related admissions are rising, with methamphetamine jumping from about 2% of admissions in 1992 to 11% in 2006. For families, this means that the low social stigma attached to alcohol helps keep addiction and subsequent admissions high, but also that the increasing availability and “coolness” of drugs like meth are driving up the number of people drawn to try them. For these people, and their families, the specter of drug rehabilitation instantly looms much closer. The extremely high addictive qualities of modern opiates, especially meth, means that users are at risk of addiction from the very first “hit.” And, as noted in the chart below, young people are at very high risk of finding themselves in need of a drug and alcohol treatment center in Colorado or somewhere else.

Age of Onset, Years to Treatment, and Proportions of New Users (< 3 Years) and New to

Treatment (Tx) Admissions for Colorado and the Denver Area:  January–December 2007

SOURCE:  Drug/Alcohol Coordinated Data System, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, Colorado Department of Human Services

¹ Computed for first-time treatment admissions/no prior treatment admissions only.

² Proportion of those with no prior treatment admissions out of all treatment admissions.

As shown, many people struggle with addiction for years before seeking treatment, which is both unnecessary due to the number of available rehabilitation facilities in Colorado, and a mistake, given the fact that the earlier treatment is sought, the better the odds of a positive outcome. Families who suspect a substance abuse problem should seek professional help immediately, and keep looking until they find a drug and alcohol treatment program with the experience, funding, and staff adequate to treat the particular addiction.