Alcohol and Drug Help in Colorado

Colorado invested $5 million in May 2025 via the Opioid Abatement Council to improve recovery infrastructure in 12 regions, funding new treatment facilities, sober living, mobile harm reduction, and recovery schools, especially in rural areas. An additional $4 million in late 2023 supported early intervention, harm reduction, and reintegration in criminal justice. These efforts enhance the availability and ongoing nature of addiction treatment.

The state of Colorado supports MAT with legislation and clinical standards. A new law mandates insurance coverage for MAT drugs without delays, allowing pharmacists to prescribe and administer them. Health First Colorado (Medicaid) now reimburses all MAT services, enabling drug rehab centers to offer evidence-based therapies without financial hurdles.

Colorado now prioritizes youth and families in drug rehab. Denver Health launched the state’s first licensed adolescent detox center (ages 12-17) for cannabis, meth, and opioid abuse, integrating family support. The Behavioral Health Administration is expanding free telehealth-based Community Reinforcement and Family Training for loved ones, highlighting family engagement as crucial to Colorado’s drug rehab efforts.

Denver’s fentanyl early-warning system and statewide naloxone distribution (Naloxone for Life Initiative), alongside removing prescription barriers for reversal medications, provide a safety net while individuals seek treatment at Colorado drug rehab centers.

Colorado’s 2020–2025 Strategic Plan prioritizes a unified recovery-support framework with safe housing, employment, and community integration, alongside clinical care. Despite 31 counties lacking MAT providers, the state is addressing this through rural initiatives. Overall, Colorado is creating a more responsive, layered approach to addiction treatment, improving access and support.