Substance Abuse Treatment

Date Updated: 12/19/2011

The Colorado Division of Behavioral Health collects data from Colorado substance abuse treatment programs that receive public (federal and state) funds comprising some portion of their budgets. These data represent adults, as well as youth and adolescents who participate in treatment. See the 'Additional Information' section for definitions of the treatment and drug types examined.

What this chart shows: Treatment Admissions by Primary Substance in Colorado & Larimer County, 2010

Includes all DACODS data reported to the Division of Behavioral Health as of 11/17/2011

Data Source: Colorado Division of Behavioral Health (data not available online)

See data table

What this chart shows: Treatment Admissions by Drug Type, Excluding Alcohol in Colorado & Larimer County, 2010

Includes all DACODS data reported to the Division of Behavioral Health as of 11/17/2011

Data Source: Colorado Division of Behavioral Health (data not available online)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

In 2009, Larimer County and Colorado reported that the highest number of treatment admissions were for alcohol abuse, averaging more than 40% of all admissions. The next highest treatment category, marijuana, accounted for 25.0% of treatment admissions in Larimer County, which was 14.2% higher than marijuana treatment admissions for Colorado (21.9%). According to the National Survey on Drug Use & Health (NSDUH), Colorado consistently ranks among the top ten states for illicit marijuana use. During this same time, Colorado and Larimer County saw an equal percentage (14.4%) of admissions for methamphetamine (meth) abuse.

In 2009, when admissions for alcohol treatment are excluded, more than one-quarter (26.3%) of all other admissions in Larimer County were identified as being associated with meth.

*The drug types comprising the 'other' bar in the chart include Benzodiazeine tranquilizer, Clonazepam, other sedatives, other tranquilizers, non-prescription Methadone, and other hallucinogens.

What this chart shows: Substance Abuse Treatment by Age in Colorado & Larimer County, 2010

Includes all DACODS data reported to the Division of Behavioral Health as of 11/17/2011

Data Source: Colorado Division of Behavioral Health (data not available online)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

In 2009, Larimer County had a higher percentage of residents under 35 admitted to substance abuse treatment than Colorado. Larimer County adults age 25 to 34 were the largest group to receive treatment (30.8% or 512 adults).

The second largest group receiving treatment was young adults between 18 and 24 (22.5% or 374 adults), which may be partially explained by the presence of Colorado State University and student overuse of alcohol and drugs.

In 2009, 20.9 million people, nationwide, were classified as needing substance abuse treatment, but did not receive any treatment. (National Survey on Drug Use and Health [pdf])

What this chart shows: Substance Abuse Treatment by Gender in Larimer County, 2008-2010

Includes all DACODS data reported to the Division of Behavioral Health as of 11/17/2011

Data Source: Colorado Division of Behavioral Health (data not available online)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

The percentage of Larimer County females admitted for some form of treatment decreased each year since 2006. In 2009, 490 local admissions were female and 1,173 admissions were male. According to a report from SAMHSA, Women in Substance Abuse Treatment [pdf], differences in treatment admissions between genders include:

• Women were less likely than men to be employed full-time and more likely to be unemployed.
• Women were more likely than men to be admitted for drug abuse instead of alcohol abuse.

What this chart shows: Substance Abuse Treatment by Race/Ethnicity in Colorado & Larimer County, 2010

 

Includes all DACODS data reported to the Division of Behavioral Health as of 11/17/2011

Data Source: Colorado Division of Behavioral Health (data not available online)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

Larimer County residents who were admitted to treatment were more likely to be 'White' than the Colorado average (76.9% versus 61.6%). This trend is evident in the previous two years of data as well.

Hispanic/Latinos were overrepresented in Larimer County, with 17.5% of all treatment admissions, whereas Hispanics comprise slightly more than 10% of the County population. (see Population by Race & Ethnicity)

Additional Information:

Definitions -

Types of substance abuse treatment include:

• Day Treatment
• Intensive Outpatient
• Intensive Residential Care
• Medically Managed Inpatient (other than detox) - A medically managed inpatient treatment service is operated by a general or specialty hospital, and includes 24-hour nursing care, physician management and the availability of all other resources of the hospital.
• Opioid Replacement Therapy (ORT) - Treatment for heroin or other opiate addiction that uses a substitute drug to decrease addiction. While most programs use methadone as the substitute drug of choice, most recently Buprenorphine, LAAM (levo acetyl methadol) and naltrexone have been employed for this purpose.
• Short-Term Intensive Residential Remediation Treatment (STIRRT) - This program seeks to assist substance abusers who fail to maintain sobriety while on parole or probation. The program includes both residential (housing up to 20 men for two weeks) and intensive outpatient treatment.
• Therapeutic Communities
• Traditional Outpatient - Conducted by appropriately credentialed counselors on a regularly scheduled basis with a frequency of less than 9 treatment contact hours per week.
• Transitional Residential Care - Provides care for individuals or families leaving more intensive treatment settings and services include helping clients reintegrate into the community.

The following drug definitions are from http://www.streetdrugs.org/. Additional drug information is available from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

• Alcohol - Considered a legal depressant, alcohol is a liquid obtained by fermentation of carbohydrates by yeast or by distillation. There are many different varieties of alcohol, but Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is the type of alcohol that is used to make alcoholic beverages.
• Barbiturate - Barbiturates, such as mephobarbital (Mebaral) and pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal), are used to treat anxiety, tension, and sleep disorders.
• Benzodiazeine Tranquilizer - Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide HCl (Librium), and alprazolam (Xanax), can be prescribed to treat anxiety, acute stress reactions, and panic attacks; the more sedating benzodiazepines, such as triazolam (Halcion) and estazolam (ProSom) can be prescribed for short-term treatment of sleep disorders.
• Clonazepam - Clonazepam (Klonopin) is an anticonvulsant used in the treatment of seizure disorders. Clonazepam is a member of a class of drug known as benzodiazepines. This drug may also be used for the short-term relief of mild to moderate anxiety.
• Cocaine / Crack - Illegal central nervous system stimulant that speeds up mental and physical processes in the body. Powder cocaine is dissolved in a solution of sodium bicarbonate and water. The solution is boiled and a solid substance separates from the boiling mixture. This solid substance, crack, is removed and allowed to dry.
• Methamphetamine - A powerful illegal stimulant that strongly activates certain systems in the brain. It is closely related chemically to amphetamine, but the central nervous system effects of methamphetamine are greater.
• Opiates (such as heroin, morphine, codeine, oxycodone) - Opiates are made from opium, a white liquid in the poppy plant. They are also referred to as narcotics.
• Non-Prescription Methadone - Although chemically unlike morphine or heroin, methadone produces many of the same effects. Introduced as an analgesic (Dolophinel), it is primarily used today for the treatment of narcotic addiction. Non-prescription methadone is frequently encountered on the illicit market and has been associated with a number of overdose deaths.
• Marijuana / Hashish - A green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant. ("Cannabis" refers to marijuana and other drugs made from the same plant.) Hashish consists of the THC-rich resinous material of the cannabis plant, which is collected, dried, and then compressed into a variety of forms, such as balls, cakes, or cookie-like sheets. Pieces are then broken off, placed in pipes, and smoked.
• LSD - D-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is the most potent hallucinogenic substance known to man. The dosage level that will produce a hallucinogenic effect in humans generally is considered to be 25 micrograms.
• PCP - Phencyclidine, more commonly known as PCP, is illicitly marketed under a number of other names including Angel Dust, Supergrass, Killer Weed, Embalming Fluid, and Rocket Fuel, reflecting the range of its bizarre and volatile effects. In its pure form, it is a white crystalline powder that readily dissolves in water.
• Inhalants - Inhalants are common household and workplace substances that are sniffed or huffed to give the user an immediate head rush or `high. Inhalants are "sniffed" from an open container or "huffed" from a rag soaked in the substance and held to the face. They include a diverse group of chemicals that are found in consumer products such as aerosols, plastic cement, nail polish remover, lighter fluid, hair spray, insecticides, and cleaning solvents.
• Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol-"roofies") - Flunitrazepam is a benzodiazepine that is used in the short-term treatment of insomnia and as a sedative hypnotic and pre-anesthetic medication. It has physiological effects similar to diazepam (commonly known by its trade name, Valium®), although flunitrazepam is approximately 10 times more potent.
• GHB or GBL (gamma hydroxybutyric acid) - A synthetic depressant produced in clandestine labs. GHB has become popular among teens and young adults at dance clubs and "raves." Body builders sometimes use GHB for its alleged anabolic effects.
• Ketamine - A dissociative general anesthetic for human and veterinary use, the only known source of ketamine is via diversion of pharmaceutical products. Ketamine, along with the other "club drugs," has become popular among teens and young adults at dance clubs and "raves." Ketamine produces physical effects similar to PCP, with the visual effects of LSD. Users report that it is better than PCP or LSD because the trip lasts an hour or less.
• Ecstasy (MDMA)-Ecstasy is a stimulant with hallucinogenic properties, the psychedelic effects of which can last between 4 and 6 hours. It is usually taken orally in pill form.
• Anabolic Steroid - Any drug or hormonal substance chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone (other than estrogen, progestins, and corticosteroids), that promotes muscle growth.

Related Information on COMPASS -

• Adult Arrests
• Adult Alcohol Use
• Adult Tobacco Use
• Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities
• Juvenile Arrests
• Perinatal Alcohol and Tobacco Use

Other Resources -

• Colorado Division of Behavioral Health, The Costs and Effectiveness of Substance Use Disorder Programs in the State of Colorado (October 2011)
• Childhelp Crystal Darkness, a 30-minute video aimed at youth and their families on the devastating effects of methamphetamine use in Colorado.
• Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Studies: The Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Studies (DATOS) were initiated in 1990 by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to evaluate drug abuse treatment outcomes and emerging treatment issues in the United States. This is NIDA's third national outcome evaluation study of publicly-funded treatment.
• Larimer Center for Mental Health
• National Institute on Drug Abuse, Marijuana: facts for teens [pdf]
• National Institute on Drug Abuse, Methamphetamine Abuse and Addiction [pdf]
• National Institute on Drug Abuse, Preventing Drug Use Among Children and Adolescents [pdf]
• State of Colorado Methamphetamine Task Force Fourth Annual Report, [pdf] January 2010
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
• World Health Organization, Neuroscience of Psychoactive Substance Use and Dependence [pdf]

Industry Standards or Targets:

Healthy People 2010:

• Objective 26-20: Increase the number of admissions to substance abuse treatment for injection drug use

Data Tables:

Treatment by Primary Substance

Substance Type	2008		2009		2010
	Colorado	Larimer County	Colorado	Larimer County	Colorado	Larimer County
Alcohol	40.7	38.8	42.1	45.4	41.7	43.2
Marijuana	21.6	26.3	21.8	25.0	22.0	22.4
Cocaine	11.7	4.4	9.6	3.9	8.3	3.2
Methamphetamine	15.7	20.2	14.5	14.4	14.6	18.2
Heroin	4.6	3.8	5.4	4.0	5.9	4.5
Other Opiates	4.1	5.5	5.0	5.4	5.8	7.3
Other	1.7	1.1	1.7	1.9	1.7	1.2

*'Other' includes sedatives, other stimulates, hallucinogens and club drugs.

See chart

Treatment by Primary Substance, Excluding Alcohol, 2010

Drug Type	Colorado		Larimer County
	#	%	#	%
Marijuana / Hashish	6,667	37.8	361	39.5
Methamphetamine/Other Amphetamines	4,420	25.1	294	32.1
Heroin	1,777	10.1	72	7.9
Other Opiate/ Synthetic Opiate	1,744	9.9	117	12.8
Cocaine / Crack	2,507	14.2	52	5.7
Other	514	2.9	19	2.1

See chart

Treatment by Age

Age	#/%	2008		2009		2010
		Colorado	Larimer County	Colorado	Larimer County	Colorado	Larimer County
17 & Under	#	2,712	229	2,859	231	2,722	169
	%	8.6	12.3	9.1	13.9	9.0	10.5
18 thru 24	#	6,087	472	6,158	374	6,034	396
	%	19.4	25.2	19.6	22.5	19.9	24.6
25 thru 34	#	9,457	555	9,577	513	9,429	524
	%	30.1	29.7	30.4	30.8	31.2	32.5
35 thru 44	#	7,259	337	6,796	313	6,371	310
	%	23.1	18.0	21.6	18.8	21.1	19.2
45 thru 54	#	4,679	230	4,767	174	4,431	159
	%	14.9	12.3	15.2	10.5	14.6	9.9
55 thru 64	#	1,115	46	1,151	49	1,135	41
	%	3.5	2.5	3.7	2.9	3.8	2.5
65 & Over	#	152	<5	160	10	135	13
	%	0.5	0.05	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.8
Total	#	31,461	1,870	31,468	1,664	30,257	1,612
	%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

See chart

Treatment by Gender

Larimer County
Male	#	2008	2009	2010
		1,294	1,173	1,082
	%	69.2	70.5	67.1
Female	#	576	491	530
	%	30.8	29.5	32.9
Total	#	1,870	1,664	1,612
Colorado
Male	#	2008	2009	2010
		20,691	20,790	19,710
	%	65.8	66.1	65.1
Female	#	10,769	10,677	10,547
	%	34.2	33.9	34.9
Total	#	31,460	31,467	30,257

See chart

Treatment by Race/Ethnicity -Colorado & Larimer County

		2008		2009		2010
		Colorado	Larimer County	Colorado	Larimer County	Colorado	Larimer County
White	#	19,648	1,458	19,381	1,280	18,783	1,271
	%	62.5	78.0	61.6	76.9	62.1	78.9
Black	#	2,561	33	2,694	34	2,371	41
	%	8.1	1.8	8.6	2.0	7.8	2.5
American Indian/ Alaskan	#	824	53	868	41	891	25
	%	2.6	2.8	2.8	2.5	2.9	1.6
Asian	#	183	8	185	5	139	9
	%	0.6	0.4	0.6	0.3	0.5	0.6
Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander	#	103	<5	78	<5	246	<5
	%	0.3	0.05	0.3	0.12	0.8	0.25
Hispanic/Latino	#	7,941	313	8,048	291	7,592	257
	%	25.2	16.7	25.6	17.5	25.1	15.9
Other Non Hispanic	#	201	<5	214	11	235	5
	%	0.6	0.21	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.3
Total	#	31,461	1,870	31,468	1,664	30,257	1,612
	%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

See chart

© 2004-2011 Larimer County | Site Map