If you or a loved one is struggling with a substance use disorder in Colorado, there is help available. Colorado has several dozen detox programs across the state. These include alcohol and drug rehab centers. The first step toward recovery often requires entering a detox center. Depending on the substance someone was using a medical detox may be necessary. For example, if someone is seeking alcohol addiction treatment then they may need detox before a rehab facility will be able to accept them. Once this is completed it is recommended to get additional help. This can include going to a treatment center that provides outpatient or residential services.
Mental health issues occur alongside substance abuse at a fairly high rate. If someone is experiencing mental health issues then getting help for this can also help their sobriety. An inpatient treatment program that specializes in behavioral health may be recommended. There are many such centers in Colorado. They can provide treatment plans that are tailored to substance abuse and dual diagnosis issues. These mental health services can provide significant help for substance abuse and mental illness.
Everyone is unique and may benefit from a different combination of treatment options. Finding the right rehab program for you can be a huge factor in your recovery. Thankfully Colorado has a wide range of addiction treatment services. Having a wide selection of providers is a good thing. This gives you options so that you can choose the most effective Colorado addiction recovery treatment possible.
A Look at Substance Abuse in Colorado
Substance abuse is a serious concern in Colorado. Drug addiction has been worsening in the state since 2000. The severity of the problems have accelerated even more since 2015 alongside the worsening of the opioid epidemic. Opioid overdose deaths have spiked largely due to fentanyl. This includes prescription drugs as well as illicit opioid drugs. The main contributor to the drug problems in Colorado is fentanyl. Similar to many other states, this drug is running rampant. The Colorado Health Institute has found that fentanyl is the main driver of the recent spike in opioid overdoses.
In addition to opioids other types of drug overdoses are on the rise. Methamphetamine use and overdoses have risen dramatically alongside opioid overdoses. While cocaine overdoses have risen as well, they have not risen as sharply as opioid or methamphetamine overdose deaths. Drug overdoses of all kinds rose by 50% from 2019 to 2020. These include overdoses from prescription opioids, cocaine, and crystal meth. This is a significant jump in just one year.
Marijuana use also remains a problem in the state. Even though it is legal for recreational use there is still a significant black market for the drug. Since you have to be 21 to buy marijuana legally, many adolescents and young adults have been buying illicit marijuana. This can lead to other drug use later in life and continues to be an issue across Colorado.
Colorado is still considered a hub for drug activity, and there is quite a lot of drug trafficking activity that occurs in the state. This is especially so in the area around Denver. In May of 2017, the DEA led a multi-agency task force in the arrest of 52 members of the East Side Crips. They were charged with trafficking cocaine and crack in the Denver metro area. Colorado also acts as a hub for drug trafficking from Mexico into the greater United States due to its central location. The major drug trafficking cartels that operate in Colorado include the Sinaloa and Los Zetas cartels. On a local level drug distribution is mainly handled by the Crips, Aryan Empire, and Sureños gangs.
Aside from foreign drug imports, there are still substantial domestic drug issues. For example, in 2017 there were 13 meth labs that were seized by law enforcement, and the presence of crystal meth remains high in the Denver area. There is also a steadily increasing presence of heroin in the Denver area over the last few years.
