Colorado Mental Health & Addiction Treatment Information

Colorado’s behavioral health and addiction treatment landscape is broad, modernizing, and deeply responsive to the state’s unique challenges. Below is a comprehensive overview of the types of mental health and addiction treatment facilities in Colorado, the conditions they treat, treatment approaches, and how providers help clients. This guide also incorporates search-optimized keywords, data, and explanations for each core service.

Core Types of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Facilities in Colorado

1. State-Run Psychiatric Hospitals

Description:Colorado operates two state-run psychiatric hospitals: the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP) and the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan (CMHHIFL) in Denver. These facilities serve as the state’s primary safety net for individuals with the most severe psychiatric needs, including those referred by the justice system or in need of forensic evaluation.

• CMHHIP: 449 beds, including adolescent, adult, and geriatric units. Provides forensic services (competency restoration, not guilty by reason of insanity), voluntary and involuntary civil commitments, and court-ordered evaluations.

• CMHHIFL: Focuses on acute adult psychiatric care, typically for indigent or Medicaid-eligible individuals.

Who They Serve:

• Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI)

• Those requiring involuntary or forensic psychiatric evaluation

• Patients needing intensive, inpatient stabilization

2. Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs)

Description:Colorado contracts with 18 CMHCs to provide a broad spectrum of mental health services for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured populations. These centers are statutorily required to offer inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, emergency, and consultative services.

• Services include: Outpatient therapy, psychiatry, crisis intervention, case management, residential care, vocational support, and wraparound services such as housing and job training.

Who They Serve:

• Children, adolescents, adults, and seniors

• Individuals with SMI, co-occurring disorders, or in crisis

• Unhoused or justice-involved populations

3. Acute Treatment Units (ATUs) and Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs)

Description:ATUs and CSUs provide short-term, 24-hour intensive behavioral health crisis intervention.

• ATUs: For individuals who need more intensive services than outpatient care but do not require full hospitalization. They offer crisis management, medication stabilization, and short-term therapy.

• CSUs: Specialized for up to 5 days of intensive crisis care in a secure, supportive environment. Services include psychiatric evaluation, medication management, individual/group counseling, and discharge planning.

Who They Serve:

• People experiencing acute psychiatric or substance use crises

• Individuals at risk of harm to self or others

4. Residential Treatment Facilities

Description:Residential facilities provide longer-term, structured care for those needing stabilization and rehabilitation.

• Adult Residential: For SMI, dual diagnosis, or severe substance use disorders.

• Youth Residential: For adolescents with emotional, behavioral, or substance use issues, often trauma-informed and family-inclusive.

Who They Serve:

• Adults and youth with chronic or severe mental health or substance use disorders

• Those requiring step-down care from hospitals or crisis units

5. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Facilities

Description:Colorado regulates SUD treatment facilities according to the ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) Levels of Care:

• Level 3.1: Clinically managed low-intensity residential services

• Level 3.2-WM: Residential withdrawal management (detox)

• Level 3.3 & 3.5: Population-specific and high-intensity residential services

• Level 3.7: Medically monitored intensive inpatient services

• Outpatient & Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP): For those needing flexible, community-based care

Who They Serve:

• Individuals with alcohol, opioid, stimulant, marijuana, or polysubstance use disorders

• Pregnant women, youth, justice-involved individuals, and those with co-occurring disorders

6. Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)

Description:Outpatient programs allow clients to live at home while attending therapy, medication management, and support groups.

• IOP: More frequent sessions (9–19 hours/week), focusing on relapse prevention, coping skills, and community integration.

Who They Serve:

• Individuals with mild to moderate mental health or substance use disorders

• Those transitioning from residential or inpatient care

7. Specialized and Community-Based Programs

Description:

• Supportive Housing: For those with SMI or SUD, offering transitional or permanent housing with clinical and peer suppor.

• Telehealth and Virtual Care: Expanding access for rural and mountain communities, offering therapy, medication management, and recovery coaching online.

• Youth and Family Services: School-based, in-home, and virtual therapy, including the I Matter program for free youth counseling.

Who They Serve:

• Rural, indigenous, Hispanic, and other underserved populations

• Children, families, and those with barriers to in-person care

Common Conditions Treated

Mental Health Disorders

• Major Depression

• Anxiety Disorders (GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety)

• Bipolar Disorder

• Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders

• PTSD and Trauma-Related Disorders

• Personality Disorders (borderline, antisocial)

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders

• Eating Disorders

• Sleep Disorders

Substance Use Disorders

• Alcohol Use Disorder

• Opioid Use Disorder (heroin, fentanyl, prescription painkillers)

• Stimulant Use Disorder (methamphetamine, cocaine)

• Marijuana and Prescription Drug Abuse

• Polysubstance Abuse

Dual Diagnosis

• Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders are common and require integrated care.

Therapeutic Approaches and Modalities

How Colorado Facilities Help Clients

• Individualized Assessment: Comprehensive evaluations upon admission to determine care level and treatment plan.

• Integrated Dual Diagnosis Care: Simultaneous treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, improving long-term outcomes.

• Multidisciplinary Teams: Psychiatrists, therapists, addiction specialists, nurses, and peer support staff work collaboratively.

• Continuum of Care: Seamless transitions between detox, inpatient, residential, outpatient, and aftercare services.

• Crisis Intervention: 24/7 hotlines, mobile crisis teams, and walk-in centers across the state.

• Aftercare and Recovery Support: Discharge planning, peer support, vocational training, and housing assistance to reduce relapse risk.

• Telehealth Expansion: Virtual therapy and digital recovery tools reach rural and underserved communities, increasing access and flexibility.

Data and Success Rates

• Volume of Services: Over 300,000 Coloradans served by community mental health centers in 2022, with many experiencing SMI or co-occurring disorders.

• Substance Use Treatment Admissions: 42,604 initiated in 2018; alcohol remains the top substance, but heroin and methamphetamine admissions have surged.

• Completion and Success Rates:

  • Industry standards show rehab completion rates vary widely, with relapse rates around 20% lower for those who complete treatment compared to those who do not.

  • Success is defined differently by each program (e.g., program completion, sobriety at 6 or 12 months, or ongoing engagement in recovery activities).

• Barriers to Care: Colorado ranks near the bottom nationally for access to mental health care, with stigma, insurance gaps, and rural access remaining key challenges.

Recent Innovations and Policy Changes

• 2024 Behavioral Health Reforms: New laws have expanded the definition of safety net services, increased provider payments, and prioritized whole-person care for mental health and substance use disorders.

• Medicaid and Licensing Updates: All SUD treatment providers must be licensed by 2024, increasing oversight and standardization.

• County-Level Initiatives: Local sales tax measures (e.g., Larimer County) fund new acute care facilities and enrich behavioral health services.

• Telehealth and Digital Care: Rapid expansion of virtual therapy, especially for youth and rural communities, supported by state and private innovation.

Summary Table: Facility Types and Core Features in Colorado

Conclusion

Colorado’s behavioral health and addiction treatment system is comprehensive, evolving, and increasingly focused on whole-person, integrated care. Facilities range from state-run psychiatric hospitals and crisis units to community mental health centers, residential programs, and innovative telehealth solutions. Evidence-based therapies like CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care, and MAT are widely used, and providers emphasize individualized treatment, recovery support, and community integration.

Despite significant progress—especially with recent reforms and expanded virtual care—Colorado still faces challenges with access, stigma, and rural service gaps. However, the state’s commitment to innovation, oversight, and whole-person care positions it as a leader in behavioral health transformation. Whether seeking help for depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, PTSD, or any form of addiction, Coloradans have access to a diverse array of specialized programs and services designed to support recovery and long-term wellness.