Alcohol Rehab Centers in Colorado

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Accepting that you struggle with alcohol misuse is often challenging. But it is also the first step in getting help and seeking treatment. Recovery can sometimes feel like a daunting process, and many people are unsure how to go about looking for help. The important thing to remember is that you are not alone. If you or someone you know is looking for an alcohol rehab in Colorado, there are plenty of options available, including free rehabs, holistic drug rehab, Christian rehab, teen rehab, and luxury treatment. Many Colorado alcohol rehabs accept private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid as well as provide financing options, such as sliding scale fees. Check out alcohol rehabs in cities like Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Boulder, and more.

Colorado Alcohol Use and Treatment Statistics

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 44,000 people in Colorado required admission for alcohol misuse-related treatment.¹ The Colorado Office of the Attorney General created a Response Task Force in 2021, which reported that from 2015 to 2019, there was an 8.7% increase in admissions for alcohol misuse treatment.²

Although not everyone who drinks excessively develops alcohol use disorder (AUD), excess alcohol intake can lead to negative consequences, including driving under the influence, trouble with work or school, and even violence.

What is the Cost of Alcohol Rehab in Colorado?

Treatment costs for alcoholism in Colorado will vary depending on many factors, such as:

• The type of treatment setting, particularly whether you require inpatient or outpatient treatment.
• If there is a need to detox first.
• The location of the treatment.
• Whether your insurance is accepted.
• The amenities that are offered at the treatment center.
• The recommended length of stay.

Inpatient alcohol rehab tends to cost more than outpatient due to the cost of room and board. Likewise, luxury treatment is more expensive than standard inpatient due to the upscale amenities and features.

If you have insurance, you will need to check with your insurer and the treatment center to understand if the facility is considered in-network and what treatment options are and are not covered. The same applies if you have Colorado state Medicaid or Medicare: you will want to check with the treatment center as there are specific treatment centers that will take the Colorado Medicaid and Medicare patients.

How to Find Free Rehabs for Alcohol Addiction in Colorado

Depending on your specific situation and needs, you may be eligible for financial assistance when enrolling in a treatment program.

State-Funded Alcohol Rehabs

State-funded programs receive funding through the state of Colorado or their respective county and are able to offer low-cost or free treatment to those who need it. These can be operated by the state, federal, and even tribal governments. In Colorado, nine facilities are operated by the state, seven are operated by the federal government, and one is operated by tribal governments.³

An example of a state-funded program is the Circle Program, which offers treatment to people with substance and mental health disorders.⁴ This is an outpatient program, and it is designed to help manage co-occurring conditions and provide recovery-oriented services and support.

Religious Contributions and Funding

Other rehab programs in Colorado that offer free or low-cost treatment for alcohol misuse include facilities that have religious contributions and funding.³ These include your local Salvation Army, which can provide rehab for alcohol and substance use disorder. You do not necessarily need to be part of a religious group.

Scholarships

Some rehab programs offer scholarships that may help fund the cost of treatment. These have specific requirements, so check with the rehab center on their requirements before applying.

When you are in a time of need and are seeking financial assistance to start your treatment for alcohol misuse, asking for financial help from your family may also be another option. It may also serve as a form of social support, where you may no longer feel alone taking on sobriety.

Does Insurance Cover Alcohol Rehab in Colorado?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) added drug and alcohol addiction treatment as one of the 10 elements of essential health benefits. As such, all health insurance plans sold on the Marketplace or provided by Medicaid must cover addiction treatment to some extent. As a result, more providers were able to offer alcohol abuse and drug abuse treatment services, which increased access to care. Consequently, most insurance plans and providers cover alcohol rehab in Colorado.⁵

But you will need to call the respective rehab program to discuss any up-front or out-of-pocket costs, such as copays, coinsurance rates, your out-of-pocket max, etc. Nearly 56% of treatment centers in Colorado accept private health insurance, 60% accept Medicaid, and 34% accept Medicare insurance.³ Your insurance may also cover only a certain number of days in rehab, so it will be important to have your treatment team be in constant communication with your insurance to discuss with them any treatment modifications that your insurance will need to cover.

Private Insurance Coverage

In Colorado, 221 or 56% of all treatment centers accept private health insurance.³ Every insurance will have different requirements and coverage clauses, so when you have taken the first step to get help and seek treatment, it will be important to call your insurance company to know what your copay or other payments will be. This may be a very stressful time, since there will be many uncertainties, and you will be starting a new path to recovery, which is why it will be important to know what your insurance will cover.

Some of the providers that cover alcohol rehab in Colorado include:⁶

• Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Kaiser Permanente
• Denver Health
• Cigna
• Rocky Mountain Health Plan

If you feel overwhelmed when speaking with your insurance, you’re not alone. It can be a taxing process. You may consider asking for help from a friend or loved one to walk you through the insurance process.

Medicaid for Alcohol Rehab

Medicaid is health insurance for eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities.⁷ Starting on January 1, 2021, Colorado expanded coverage to provide treatment assistance to Coloradans searching on their road to recovery under the Health First Colorado insurance.⁸ Colorado’s Medicaid program now provides coverage to 1 out of every 4 Coloradans.

Medicare for Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Medicare is the federal health insurance program and is available for the following individuals:⁹

• People aged 65 and older.
• Younger people with disabilities.
• People with end-stage renal disease, permanent kidney disease, or on dialysis or transplant.

If you qualify for Medicare meeting the above requirements, Medicare can cover alcohol misuse screening and, if needed, your treatment. Medicare has multiple parts: Part A covers mental health services, including inpatient hospitalization, and Part B will cover your doctor’s bill or other services received outside of the hospital.⁹

Does My Insurance Plan Cover Alcoholism Treatment?

After you have decided to seek treatment for AUD and found a rehab that has an individualized treatment plan that meets your needs, you will then need to ask what coverage your insurance will provide. Many rehab centers have a toll-free helpline that will help verify your insurance coverage. If you need help finding a rehab that will accept your insurance in Colorado, you can also call the number on the back of your insurance card to see if there are treatment centers that accept your insurance nearby.

How to Finance Alcoholism Treatment in Colorado

There are many options for financing your alcohol rehab in Colorado, including:

• Rehab scholarships that cover the cost of alcohol rehabs
• Sliding scale fees that reduce the price to what you can reasonably pay based on your income
• Payment plans, which break up the cost of treatment into smaller monthly payments

Apply for a Rehab Scholarship

Some treatment facilities will offer scholarships based on the person’s needs, which may provide partial or full funding for the program. Many treatment centers have application FAQs (frequently asked questions), which will provide an overview of the application.¹⁰ It is important to go over these requirements as many scholarships may have restrictions and it is important to know these before applying. You can also apply through a third-party organization, such as 10,000 Beds.

Select a Sliding Scale Rehab Program

A sliding scale can be increased or lower based on a person’s ability to pay. Many treatment programs can offer a sliding scale based on the individual.³ Therefore, as you seek a treatment program, speak with the customer service representative and inquire about sliding scales. Many treatment programs understand that AUD can bring chaos to a person’s financial situation and are understanding of the financial insecurities that may come with seeking treatment.

Choose a Program That Offers Payment Plans

Many treatment programs will offer financing options for you or a loved one when seeking treatment for alcohol misuse. Having a payment plan allows you to pay off the amount owed for treatment at your own pace, depending on your budget. Payment plans can also be done through loans from treatment programs, but you will need to discuss these terms with the treatment center. Some may outsource their financing options, and you may want to avoid accruing interest on your bill.

Popular Alcohol Rehab Centers in Colorado

Colorado offers a variety of treatment programs that can meet your treatment goals throughout the state that take advantage of Colorado’s beauty and majestic landscape.

Sobriety House

Sobriety house offers high-quality drug and alcohol treatment through an extensive continuum of care. It offers residential, traditional outpatient, and intensive outpatient treatment options. It has three locations in the Denver area: the Baber House, Dolan House, and Phoenix Concept.

Stout Street Foundation

Stout Street Foundation provides treatment options in the Denver metro area. They offer a short-term, 28-day, Serenity inpatient resident program as well as a long-term residential program. Both programs take most insurance and offer to finance for individuals who qualify.

Northstar Transitions

Northstar Transitions in Boulder offers a variety of alcohol and drug treatment programs, including detox, residential, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and programs for young adults. Northstar offers healing for not only those struggling with addiction, but also provides support services for families. Most major insurances are accepted when seeking treatment at Northstar.

AspenRidge Recovery

AspenRidge Recovery offers various treatment centers in Colorado. They offer PHP, IOP, evening IOP, and outpatient programs. It is one of the leading treatment centers in Fort Collins, CO, and provides the need and guidance that many need during the process of seeking treatment.

Alcohol Rehab Settings

Treatment for alcohol misuse and addiction is tailored to the individual, and each treatment center will determine your own needs. The first step in addressing your AUD is admitting that you have a problem. Then the treatment process can start with alcohol detox, which typically usually occurs in an inpatient setting due to the risk of severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms.¹² After an inpatient setting, you then graduate to a partial hospitalization program (PHP), where you attend an outpatient clinic for five days a week for at least eight hours per day.¹² 

After your provider feels you are ready to move on to the next step in treatment, intensive outpatient programs are next and are followed by standard outpatient.¹² After graduating from these, then you proceed to aftercare programs, which will last as long as you and your healthcare provider feel is best.

The above process is known as the continuum of care for alcoholism. While some people may make their way through the continuum in this predictable manner, others may not follow this process, and that’s okay—everyone’s recovery process differs based on various circumstances. Some people’s first point of contact with alcohol addiction treatment may be an outpatient treatment program.

Inpatient Alcohol Rehab

Inpatient alcohol rehab provides medically monitored inpatient evaluation and supervised evaluation of withdrawal management in a facility with inpatient beds.¹² You will be admitted and continuously monitored by ancillary staff, and a physician will be on duty. Inpatient rehab may take place in hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, or appropriately licensed chemical dependency specialty centers.¹² You will be required to stay in the admitting facility for the entirety of your treatment program.

In addition to withdrawal symptom management and medication management, inpatient rehab provides individual therapy, group counseling, family therapy, relapse prevention classes, AA meetings or other support groups, and aftercare planning.

Partial Hospitalization Programs

A partial hospitalization program may be in the same setting as an inpatient treatment program or the same setting as an intensive outpatient program.¹² PHP programs are the most intensive of the outpatient programs and provide services to patients that include high-intensity counseling services during daytime hours and return home in the evenings.¹² This is great for those with families, but remember that your intake session will determine what kind of treatment program is right for you.

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)

IOPs are like PHPs, except that the time you may spend at the treatment center may vary from 6–9 hours of counseling services each week, split between two or three sessions per week.¹² It offers similar resources as PHP but with a lower intensity.¹² You will participate in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs, group therapy, psychotherapy, counseling groups, and support groups. This type of program offers the ability to resume employment at reduced hours or spend more time with family if you are the head of your household.

Standard Outpatient

Standard outpatient treatment is provided by counselors in a clinic or office setting and generally offers fewer hours of services than PHP or IOP.¹² This type of treatment is the least intensive but offers the most flexibility for people continuing to fulfill obligations at work, home, or school while recovering from alcohol addiction.

Virtual Alcohol Rehab and Telehealth

Telehealth uses phone or video-conferencing technology to help provide care over long distances without requiring you to travel to the clinic or treatment center. Telemedicine can allow individuals to stay in outpatient treatment for longer and receive more counseling to further strengthen their recovery. Telehealth is not ideal for everyone; therefore, it is important to be honest about your alcohol misuse during your intake to get the best-individualized treatment plan for you.

Medical Detox for Alcohol Withdrawal

Medical detox is guided by a medical provider and ancillary staff with the use of medication to help manage the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal after you have stopped drinking. This is done to help minimize the harm that can be caused by suddenly ceasing alcohol consumption.¹² Some of the minor withdrawal symptoms that can present within six hours from the last drink include:¹³

• Insomnia
• Trembling or shaking
• Mild anxiety and nervousness
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Mood swings, fatigue, or irritability
• Sweaty, clammy skin
• Headaches
• Rapid heart rate

More serious symptoms can set in anywhere from six hours to 48 hours after you start the detox process. These include seizures and hallucinations, and within 48 to 96 hours from the last drink, you may begin to experience delirium tremens, which can last for up to five days.¹³

Therefore, the majority of medically managed detox will take place in an intensive inpatient acute care setting with physician services to manage withdrawal symptoms. Undergoing detox in an inpatient facility can help you set up your continuum of care and establish your outpatient treatment needs, depending on your unique social situation to help you successfully maintain sobriety.¹²

Specialized Alcohol Rehab in Colorado 

Many rehabs in Colorado offer treatment geared specifically to different populations. There is also a focus on inclusivity and acceptance. Here are just a few of the options you have when seeking specialized treatment for AUD.

Veteran Rehab

There are countless treatment centers in Colorado tailored to treat the unique needs of veterans, such as co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from combat or sexual assault.³ Redpoint center in FortCollins is a treatment center that offers treatment geared to veterans.

LGBTQ+ Rehab

In Colorado, many treatment centers offer treatment programs geared toward the LGBTQ+ community.³ These alcohol treatment facilities staff providers who understand the challenges of this community, such as discrimination, family rejection, internalized transphobia and homophobia, and harassment and assault. AspenRidge is one of those treatment centers, with various locations throughout the state.

Men-Only Rehab

More than half of the treatment programs in Colorado offer services geared specifically for men who may feel more comfortable recovering from alcoholism in a men-only environment, perhaps due to the stigma of seeking treatment as well as society’s expectation for men to be stoic and not vulnerable.³

Women-Only Rehab

As a woman, you may want to disclose certain trauma only around other women who may fully empathize with your situation; therefore, nearly 60% of treatment centers offer treatment geared specifically toward women.³

Teen Rehab

More than 100 programs in Colorado are focused on caring for adolescents.³ These programs have counselors and providers who have been specially trained to make connections with the adolescents in their treatment programs to encourage long-lasting changes.

Should I Travel to Colorado for Alcohol Rehab?

Many alcohol rehabs in Colorado take out-of-state patients for alcohol or drug addiction treatment. You may want to travel from out of state for many reasons, such as:

• To focus on recovery while surrounded by nature in a beautiful, resort-like environment.
• To temporarily move away from temptations, family obligations, and daily stressors to focus on recovery.
• To receive treatment where you have support from loved ones if they live in Colorado.
• To take advantage of Colorado’s climate.
• To partake in rehab in a treatment center covered by insurance.

The biggest benefit of traveling to Colorado for rehab is that it allows you to step away from your everyday life, which may be contributing to your misuse, and focus on your recovery. By taking a pilgrimage for your recovery and traveling to Colorado, you are putting yourself first and separating from the friends you normally drink with, the stress that may lead you to use alcohol to cope, and the job with social gatherings centered around alcohol.

Regional Considerations in Colorado

The biggest areas in Colorado with the most treatment centers include the Denver metro area, which encompasses the cities of Denver, Lakewood, and Aurora. For a more nature-forward experience, there are also treatment centers in the Fort Collins area to the north or in Colorado Springs to the south. Alternatively, there are centers located in the Aspen area or the Telluride area as well.

Alcohol and Drug Laws in Colorado

Colorado’s Good Samaritan Law protects a person from criminal prosecution when a person reports an emergency drug or alcohol overdose. Even if you remain at the scene of the event until a law enforcement office or emergency medical responder arrival. This protection also extends to the person who suffered the emergency drug or alcohol overdose event.¹⁴

In Colorado, if someone is convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), they may face jail time; however, jail time can be waived if a person agrees to go to an alcohol addiction treatment program.

Additionally, a Colorado resident can, by law, be committed to an addiction treatment program if a judge orders it through the Involuntary Commitment process. This process is typically used for people refusing to go to treatment who pose a risk to themself or someone else due to their substance use. They must be medically and psychiatrically stable in order to be involuntarily committed to alcohol abuse treatment.

Ongoing Care for Post-Rehab Success

Aftercare is part of the continuum of treatment after completing inpatient treatment, PHP, or IOP. The goal is the maintain sobriety and maintain a solid support network. Many rehab aftercare programs are termed alumni programs. Another way to continue aftercare is by attending AA meetings in Colorado and building a fellowship with the members from these meetings. Other options include sober living homes, group counseling, and attending meetings through SMART recovery, a prof-Management And Recovery Training program.

If you need help finding an alcohol rehab in Colorado, call our helpline at 800-948-8417 Who Answers? to speak to a treatment support specialist.

Resources

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS): 2019. Admission to and Discharges from Publicly Funded Substance Use Treatment.
2. Colorado Office of the Attorney General. (2021). Colorado Substance Abuse Trend and Response Task Force.
3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). 2020 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Series State Profiles Executive Summary.
4. Colorado Department of Human Services. (2022). Circle Program.
5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016). Paying for Behavioral Health Treatment: The Role of the Affordable Care Act.
6. The National Committee for Quality Assurance. (2019). NCQA Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2019 – 2020.
7. Gov (2022). Medicaid.
8. Colorado Department of Health Care and Policy & Financing. (2020). Health First Colorado Expands Substance Use Disorder Benefits.
9. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2014). Who Is Eligible for Medicare.
10. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Funding Opportunities.
11. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Find Treatment.
12. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2006). Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment.
13. National Institute of Health. (2019). Alcohol Withdrawal.
14. Colorado Department of Health Care and Policy & Financing. (2020). Colorado Public Health Harm Reduction Legislation.