Top 34 Alcohol & Drug Rehab Centers in Denver, CO & Free Treatment Resources

Denver Alcohol and Drug Use Statistics

14.1% (approximately 83,000) of young adults aged 18 to 25 had an illicit drug use disorder over the past year

5.4% (approximately 259,000) of individuals aged 12 or older had an illicit drug use disorder over the past year

Alcohol use disorder among those aged 12 and older was at 8.5% (approximately 407,000 people)

Among those age 12 and older, opioid use disorder averaged 5.3% (approximately 274,000 people).¹

In Denver, of those suffering from substance use disorders, 77% used heroin, 70% used methamphetamines, and 83% used more than one drug.²

Expert Insights

I recently learned that Colorado has a recovery high school in Denver, serving kids with substance use disorders. I think it’s a brilliant idea that someone who has recovered from addiction is now the director of recovery at 5280 High School. He’ll have the lived experience necessary to be able to tell students his own experiences of addiction. I believe there is great power in the words “me too,” because you feel like you’re not alone. Had I experienced a mentor like that in school I don’t think my addiction would’ve gotten so bad or lasted until my 30s, when I eventually hit a rock bottom. These kids have a new lease of life before the real damage of addiction takes hold and I think that’s a really great thing!

~ Olivia Pennelle

Top 5 Drug Rehabs in Denver, CO

Every alcohol and drug rehab in Denver offers its own set of unique amenities, programs, and therapies. Evidence-based treatment is available at multiple inpatient centers in Denver. These facilities often provide a range of therapies, faith-based treatments, and outpatient options for recovery.

Below are the top five addiction treatment centers in Denver based on the following criteria:

• Offering evidence-based treatment
• Accreditation
• Certifications
• Client testimonials / reviews

Sandstone Care Denver Center

Sandstone Care Denver Center, located at Tamarac Plaza, between I-25 and I-225, offers partial hospitalization and outpatient treatment for teens and young adults. Amenities include day school activities, a rec room, meditation room, and art activities.

Treatment programs include:

• Partial Hospitalization Treatment
• Intensive Outpatient Treatment
• Assessments
• Dual Diagnosis
• Teen/YA Program
• After School Recovery
• Virtual Intensive Outpatient

Treatment programs are supported by:

• LegitScript

Location and contact information:
7555 E. Hampden Ave.
Denver, CO 80231
720-420-7444

Continuum Recovery Center of Colorado

Continuum Recovery Center of Colorado is located at Tamarac Plaza in Denver, with surface parking and a tree-lined view. The facility offers outpatient substance abuse services tailored to the needs of working adults. Holistic-focused treatment plans address family of origin, trauma, and spiritual/social development.

Treatment programs include:

• Outpatient Treatment
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
• Medication-Assisted Treatment
• Alcohol Rehab
• Drug Rehab
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• Holistic Addiction Treatment
• Outpatient Rehab Job Program
• Life Skills Training

Treatment programs are supported by:

• Joint Commission

Location and contact information:
9725 E. Hampden Ave. Suite 308
Denver, CO 80231
720-336-4700

Mile High Recovery Center

Mile High Recovery, located in the heart of Denver, offers affordable care for alcohol and drug abuse, dual-diagnosis, trauma, and PTSD. With a focus on long-term recovery, they have an active Alumni Program in Denver.

Treatment programs include:

• Residential Treatment Program
• Partial Hospitalization Program
• Medication-assisted Treatment
• Dual Diagnosis
• Opioid Rehab
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• EMDR Therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Motivational Enhancement Therapy
• Alumni Program

Treatment programs are supported by:

• Joint Commission
• LegitScript Certification

Location and contact information:
1633 Filmore Street
Denver, CO 80206
720-699-7779

Crossroads Denver

Crossroads Denver, located off I-25 in Lincoln Park, near the Denver Art Museum, is a drug and alcohol rehab facility. They specialize in outpatient medication-assisted treatment.

Treatment programs include:

• Detox
• Outpatient Rehab
• Medication-assisted Treatment (MAT)
• Opioid Rehab
• Counseling

Treatment programs are supported by:

• LegitScript Certification

Location and contact information:
1801 W. 13th St.
Denver, Co 80204
800-805-6989

Urban Peaks Rehab Suboxone Clinic

Urban Peaks Rehab Suboxone Clinic, located in the Alta Court Offices in the Cheesman Park neighborhood of Denver, is a medication management and therapy facility specializing in opiate addiction. The clinic is contracted with Medicaid and offers affordable self-payments options.

Treatment programs include:

• Medication-assisted Treatment
• Outpatient Treatment
• Ketamine-assisted Therapy
• Suboxone, Zubsolv, Sublocade, and Lucemyra medication options
• Individual Counseling
• Group Counseling

Location and contact information:
1490 Lafayette St. #104
Denver, CO 80218
303-955-5131

Cost of Drug Rehab in Denver

When it comes to price, many factors can affect the cost of addiction treatment in Denver. These can include:

Type of rehabilitation

Amenities offered at the facility

Length of your stay

Facility of your choice

In the state of Colorado:³

However, your care may be far cheaper than these averages, especially if you have insurance or are able to find a state-funded drug rehab in Denver.

Low-Cost and Free Drug Rehab Centers in Denver

Many low-cost and free addiction treatment centers are available in Denver. These programs are for individuals who have no income or low income and are unable to afford the cost.

Facilities that are funded by the state use government money to help pay for services for those who need it but don’t have the income or insurance to pay.

If you do have insurance, it can greatly reduce the cost. According to the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008, health insurers and group health plans must cover mental health and substance use programs.

How Do You Pay for Addiction Treatment in Denver?

If the free clinics in Denver are full or you don’t have insurance, you still have alternatives:

Choose a Program That Offers Payment Plans

When it comes to paying for care, some alcohol and drug rehabs in Denver offer payment plans. Payment plans are an easy way to get the services you need without having to have the money to pay the upfront costs.

Apply for a Scholarship

A scholarship is a financial award that pays for your treatment. These scholarships usually do not have to be paid back. If you don’t have the financial means, these scholarships can be given to you. They can pay for the full cost or help fill in any gaps in funding from your insurance.

Find a Sliding-Scale Program

A sliding-scale fee is a payment method that many programs employ. This type of payment option often involves offering you a flexible fee schedule in which your payment would change based on your ability to pay. To qualify for a sliding-scale payment, the facility will request your income and examine it against a fee scale typically set by the clinic.

Addiction Treatment Settings

The best level of substance abuse treatment will vary based on your individual needs. Here are the different levels of care provided to meet those needs. 

Medical Detox

This process is often referred to simply as detox. It involves safely and comfortably removing drugs or alcohol from your system. This process will take place under supervision, usually in a hospital or inpatient facility.

Inpatient

In an Inpatient program, you will be supervised 24/7 while you live at a facility. Methods of treatment typically include group and individual therapy and may also involve medication and other forms of therapy.  

Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs)

PHPs usually involve many of the same methods as inpatient care, but instead of living in a facility during the program, you live at home. You only stay at the facility during treatment hours. 

Intensive Outpatient

IOPs offer a step down in supervision from a PHP. You can still expect several hours of counseling throughout the week while you spend the rest of your time fulfilling work, school, or home obligations.

Standard Outpatient

Standard outpatient care will take place with minimal supervision, with just one to two hours of care per week. Highly-motivated people with a strong support system tend to find this level beneficial.

Aftercare

Relapse prevention, also known as aftercare, begins after you complete a program. This ongoing support may involve continued therapy and 12-step groups.  

You can choose from many accredited drug rehabs in Denver, which can make finding the right one slightly overwhelming. If you need assistance determining which facility is right for you, we’re here to help, day or night. Please call our free and confidential helpline at 800-926-9037 (Who Answers?) to speak with a support specialist.

Specialized Drug Rehabs in Denver

Many types of alcohol and drug rehab centers in Denver offer help based on varying principles, approaches, styles, and clients. These facilities provide a wide range of services, from holistic and executive centers to faith-based and luxury programs.

Holistic

Holistic clinics use both conventional and alternative therapies as a tool on your road to long-term recovery. Some of the therapies offered in a holistic program include meditation, expressive therapy, art therapy, acupuncture, osteopathic treatments, and spiritual and/or religious interventions.

Christian and Faith-Based

Christian and faith-based programs use God and faith as a central theme of the recovery process. These often incorporate Christian and faith-based teachings into the treatment model. Ordained ministers have created or facilitated some faith-based plans to help you explore and strengthen your connection with God or a higher power on your road to recovery.

Luxury

Luxury centers make a special effort to provide extravagant and comfortable accommodations when it comes to starting your journey to long-term recovery. Luxury centers offer deluxe amenities like private bedrooms and bathrooms, activities like yoga and acupuncture, and even therapies that may be individualized to your specific needs.

Executive

An executive option may be for you if you work in a high-ranking position like a chief executive officer (CEO), chief operating officer (COO), or chief financial officer (CFO). Although traditional clinics usually limit or prevent access to outside influences through phones and computers, executive programs realize that your role in your company requires you to be active and available through these platforms.

Dual Diagnosis

Some centers in Denver offer a dual diagnosis program. These work to provide care to individuals who have been diagnosed with both a substance use disorder and a mental illness such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.

Types of Therapy Used in Denver Drug Rehabs

Many effective and evidence-based therapies are available when it comes to addiction treatment. These therapies have a wide range of effectiveness and are used based on what your professional decides is best for you.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you find the relationship between your emotions, thoughts, and actions. The goal of CBT is to help you change your thinking patterns so that you can gain problem-solving skills and a greater sense of confidence in yourself. CBT helps you understand how your feelings and actions contribute to your recovery.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) helps you accept uncomfortable feelings through validation and mindfulness. DBT helps you change negative behaviors. DBT also focuses on emotional regulation and is often used for individuals who also suffer from depression or anxiety.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) helps create an internal motivation to help you stay engaged in a program and stop using substances other than prescribed and misusing alcohol. MET helps you to strengthen your emotions while at the same time helping you develop a plan that leads to positive changes.

Contingency Management

Contingency management is a type of therapy in which positive behavioral changes are reinforced or rewarded. Often, this treatment involves a monetary reward or gift card given to an individual for having a negative drug urine screening. Contingency management involves conditioning your brain to see abstaining from non-prescribed substances and misusing alcohol as more rewarding than partaking of those substances.

Group Therapy

Group therapy often involves a trained group leader and more than one person. If you participate in group therapy, you will usually be participating with other individuals with whom you are not related. You will often have your first interactions with your other group members during your initial group therapy session. In group therapy, you will receive education, support, and motivation from your peers as you move toward long-term recovery.

Family Therapy

Family therapy involves interventions that include the entire family. This often includes assessing interactions between you and your family members and changing negative interaction patterns. In family therapy, your therapist will help you and your family explore the dynamics behind your actions and offer support and tools to help you move closer toward recovery.

Should You Travel for Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Denver?

You may be wondering if you should consider traveling to Denver for addiction treatment. There are many high-quality facilities and detox centers in Denver with expansive offerings to fit your individual needs.

To determine whether you should travel to Denver, you should consider whether you have the financial means to travel, whether leaving your current environment would negatively impact your alcohol and/or drug use, and if you have a support system to assist you once you return home.

Alcohol and Drug Laws in Colorado

If you are caught with or using drugs and/or alcohol illegally in Denver, the legal system will determine the outcome of your case. In Denver, it is considered a misdemeanor if you are caught with a small amount of certain drugs like heroin, fentanyl, or cocaine. A conviction can result in jail time from 6 to 18 months and a monetary fine.

Driving while under the influence of alcohol in Denver can result in the suspension of your driver’s license, jail or prison for up to six years, public service requirements, and fines. In some cases, a portion of your jail sentence can be suspended if you agree to go through an alcohol rehabilitation program.

911 Good Samaritan Law 

This law states that a person is immune from criminal prosecution for an offense when they report an emergency overdose. This includes Colorado residents who call 911 or remain at the scene of the event and the person who experienced the overdose. 

Naloxone Standing Orders 

Enacted in 2015, this law allows licensed prescribers to provide Naloxone to Colorado residents who may experience an opioid overdose, even without a prescription. The goal is to increase access to this overdose antidote and reduce the number of overdose deaths.

Needle-Stick Prevention 

This law allows police officers to make an exception to arrest and charges for the crime of possession of drug paraphernalia if the Colorado resident informs the officer that they have a needle, syringe, or other sharp objects on their person or in their home or vehicle—prior to being searched. 

Syringe Exchange Programs 

In Colorado, nonprofits and health facilities can operate a syringe exchange program without prior board of health approval. Organizations and participants in these are also exempt from paraphernalia laws.

Marijuana Laws 

Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012. Adults at least 21 years old may buy up to 1 ounce of retail marijuana from a licensed store and possess up to 2 ounces at a time. It is illegal to drive in Colorado after consuming marijuana. State law sets the impairment level for marijuana at 5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood.

If you want more information on how to find accredited alcohol or drug rehab centers in Denver, call 800-926-9037 (Who Answers?) to speak to an addiction specialist today.

Resources

1. Denver, Colorado Population 2020 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs). (n.d.). Worldpopulationreview.com.
2. Vital Statistics Program | Department of Public Health & Environment. (n.d.). Cdphe.colorado.gov. 
3. (2020). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Behavioral Health Barometer: Colorado, Volume 6: Indicators as measured through the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services.[Ebook] (6th ed.).
4. Denver Environmental Health. (2017). Needs Assessment on Opioid Use.
5. National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. (n.d.). Average Cost of Drug Rehab: by Type, State & More.
6. Di Lorenzo, R., Galliani, A., Ferri, P., Landi, G., & Guicciardi, A. (2014). A retrospective analysis focusing on a group of patients with dual diagnosis treated by both mental health and substance use services. Neuropsychiatric Disease And Treatment, 1479.
7. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from 2019 National Surgery on Drug Use and Health [Ebook].
8. Quello, S., Brady, K., & Sonne, S. (2005). Mood Disorders and Substance Use Disorder: A Complex Comorbidity. Science & Practice Perspectives, 3(1), 13-21.
9. Bushnell, G. A., Gaynes, B. N., Compton, S. N., Dusetzina, S. B., Olfson, M., & Stürmer, T. (2019). Incident Substance Use Disorder Following Anxiety Disorder in Privately Insured Youth. The Journal of Adolescent Health: Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 65(4), 536-542.
10. Brady, K. T., Haynes, L. F., Hartwell, K. J., & Killeen, T. K. (2013). Substance use disorders and anxiety: a treatment challenge for social workers. Social Work in public Health, 28(3-4), 407-423.
11. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022). Veterans Affairs. ptsd.va.gov.
12. Parmar, A., & Kaloiya, G. (2018). Comorbidity of Personality Disorder among Substance Use Disorder Patients: A Narrative Review. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 40(6), 517-527.