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If you are searching for alcohol rehab in Denver, we are here to help. Every year, thousands of people will pursue treatment in Denver; with sunny weather, beautiful sights, and high-quality treatment centers, it is a top choice when looking for a Colorado alcohol rehab.

Denver Alcohol Use Statistics

In 2021, nearly 20% of adults in Colorado reported engaging in excessive drinking, defined as either binge drinking in the past 30 days or consistent heavy drinking over the year.¹ This means that just about one in every five adults in Colorado demonstrates excessive drinking behavior; while not everyone who engages in excessive drinking will develop alcohol use disorder, it is a significant risk factor for one.

Additional trends in the Colorado 2021 statistics include:¹

Residents identifying as multiracial had the highest incidence of excessive drinking, with nearly 23% reporting the behavior during the year.
8% of the18-44 age group reported excessive drinking, compared to only eight% of those over 65 years.
9% of Colorado men reported excessive drinking, while 16.6% of women exhibited the behavior.
Higher-income levels reported higher rates of excessive drinking, with 13.6% of those with an income less than $25,000 a year engaging in excessive drinking, compared to 23.6% of individuals with an income over $75,000.

Excessive drinking can also lead to unwanted consequences, including alcohol poisoning, learning and memory deficits, violence and injuries, an increased risk of cancer, and mood disturbances, among other troubling possibilities.¹

Cost of Alcohol Rehab in Denver

The cost of alcohol rehab in Denver will depend on a variety of different factors, including:

Type of rehab (inpatient vs. outpatient)
Whether or not you need detox services
State and federal funding
Accepted insurance plans
Location (e.g., downtown vs. rural areas)
Additional mental health treatments or resources required
Features and amenities (luxury vs. standard)
Length of treatment
Household income

In terms of the total cost of treatment, inpatient Denver alcohol rehab will be significantly more expensive than outpatient programs due to increased costs for housing, food, and a greater intensity of treatments and care.

Low-Cost and Free Rehabs in Denver

If you are interested in treatment but concerned about your ability to afford it on your own, there are free and low-cost options for alcohol rehab in Denver. Thanks to charitable donations, private endowments, and government grants, these programs can offer treatment for free or at reduced rates to make their services more accessible and affordable. Most free and low-cost programs get based on your income level, meaning only those who cannot afford it qualify for this type of rehab.

Health insurance also generally provides at least some coverage for your rehab costs. When deciding on a facility and determining the cost of treatment, call the phone number on the back of your insurance card to discuss what kind of coverage you have and how you can maximize your benefits. Depending on your insurance, rehab may be more affordable than you expected!

How Do I Pay for Alcohol Abuse Treatment in Denver?

If you do not qualify for free or low-cost programs and do not have sufficient insurance coverage, or if you just want to make alcohol rehab more affordable, there are additional options to help you pay for treatment:

Choose a rehab that offers payment plans.
Apply for a rehab scholarship.
Use a crowdfunding site to raise money.

Choose a Program that Offers Payment Plans

Rehab facilities with payment plans can make rehab more affordable by allowing you to pay for your treatment over an extended period. This may involve a financing option; the rehab program will work with you and a third party to obtain financing, which you repay to the third party over time. Other programs will establish the total cost of treatment and divide it into equal monthly payments, and you pay them for your treatment over an agreed-upon time. Payment plans decrease the amount you pay upfront and make the cost of your treatment more manageable by spreading it out over months or even years of payments.

Apply for a Rehab Scholarship

Rehab scholarships are another way to make your treatment at an alcohol rehab in Denver more affordable. These scholarships are typically offered if you need treatment but cannot afford it without additional financial assistance. They are often provided by individual rehab facilities, corporations that own and manage treatment facilities, or non-profit foundations. Applications for these scholarships are considered on a case-by-case basis; you will need to contact the specific facility, corporation, or foundation to learn how you can apply.

One example of a non-profit offering rehab scholarships is 10,000 beds. You are welcome to apply if you meet the following criteria:

You need treatment for alcohol use issues.
You want to get better.
You are ready to commit to at least 30 days in an inpatient rehab facility.
You don’t have enough resources to cover treatment costs.
You have exhausted all types of support, such as family, friends, and community resources.

Find a Sliding Scale Rehab Program

To make alcohol addiction treatment more accessible and affordable to patients, many alcohol rehabs in Denver will charge for their treatment services on a sliding scale. These programs generally consider household income when determining treatment costs, allowing lower-income households to pay less for alcohol rehab, while still making enough money to cover the operating costs of the facility.

Popular Alcohol Rehab Centers in Denver

A Woman’s Way to Recovery

Established based on the realization that many women need gender-specific treatment of substance use disorders for the best outcomes, A Woman’s Way to Recovery aims to provide quality treatment using evidence-based tools, small and personable treatment groups, and creating a positive and soothing environment for women. They ultimately want women to not feel judged or shame about their addiction, DUI, or any other struggles. They work with women who are court-ordered and those who do not yet have legal consequences but wish to overcome their substance use disorder.

Independence House

The mission of Independence House is to monitor and manage individuals recovering from substance use orders in both residential and non-residential environments, aligning them with appropriate treatment and vocational resources to equip them for eventual release into the Denver community. With the understanding that public safety is paramount, Independence House is committed to taking the time and effort to ensure this responsibility.

Denver Indian Health and Family Services

The DIHFS is the only Urban Indian Health program in Denver providing culturally appropriate healthcare for Native American families and individuals. They offer treatment of substance use disorders free of charge for Native American residents of Denver, and non-natives are welcome to pursue treatment on a sliding scale payment structure. As a clinic rather than a full-service hospital, they are appropriate for non-emergency treatments and care if you need non-urgent help with your alcohol use disorder.

Recovering Spirit

Recovering Spirit focuses on addiction, recovery, wellness, holistic health, and spirituality. They provide outpatient services for clients both on a voluntary and court-ordered basis and are licensed through the Department of Behavioral Health. They believe that recovery requires a foundation of wellness to fully integrate sobriety into a balanced lifestyle and approach treatment holistically to accomplish this goal.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Alcohol Rehab in Denver

Inpatient and outpatient rehab programs in Denver offer different treatment structures, and the appropriate setting for you will depend on your needs and where you are on your path to recovery. In inpatient alcohol rehab, you live at the facility for the duration of treatment, generally ranging from 30 to 90 days. Upon entering the facility, you fill out paperwork, receive a bed assignment, and undergo a comprehensive assessment by qualified medical professionals. A personalized treatment plan with a structured schedule is then created for you, which may include several of the following methods:

Individual, group, or family therapy
Support group meetings
Relapse prevention education
Post-discharge planning
Recreational therapy
Holistic therapy

Outpatient alcohol rehab in Denver is a more flexible option, so it will be a good fit if you need to continue your duties such as working, attending school, or fulfilling familial obligations while you attend rehab. In outpatient treatment, you continue living at home and travel daily to treatment sessions at a local outpatient facility. Outpatient rehab ranges from a few hours per week of individual therapy sessions to a partial hospitalization program, providing a very structured routine with several hours of therapy per day for at least five days of the week.

Benefits of Inpatient Addiction Treatment

Treatment through an inpatient alcohol rehab has many benefits if you feel you need a more supportive environment and intensive approach to handle your alcohol use disorder. These benefits include:

Medical detox: Inpatient programs provide a safe place to detox while medical professionals monitor vitals. Alcohol detox can last from approximately three to ten days, with alcohol withdrawal symptoms starting within 6 hours and peaking at 72 hours. Being in an inpatient rehab gives you access to round-the-clock monitoring and care to help manage your symptoms and keep your system stabilized.
Success Rate: The inpatient setting provides you with a structured framework to manage relapses and ensure you have the time and resources to address the underlying causes of your substance use disorder. It also physically limits your access to alcohol and removes you from past triggers and associations with alcohol you may have in your current environment, which helps to increase your overall chances of reaching and maintaining sobriety if these barriers are present to you.
Community: Inpatient facilities nurture the development of community and fellowship between staff, counselors, and other patients. This sense of belonging and support can help you feel less isolated, have greater social assistance, and have more confidence in your ability to achieve and maintain sobriety.

Benefits of Outpatient Addiction Treatment

While inpatient rehab offers many benefits to meet certain treatment needs, you may find outpatient rehab to be a better fit if you are looking for more flexibility. To this end, the outpatient setting offers several benefits, including:

Maintaining Employment: Taking weeks or months off work is a major obstacle for most of us when considering inpatient alcohol rehab. Outpatient rehab programs are generally offered during evening or off-hours so you can get treatment while still maintaining employment and a steady paycheck. This can help relieve your financial concerns while also helping you to maintain a sense of routine and normalcy.
Treatment Cost: The cost of outpatient rehab will tend to be much lower than inpatient care. Without the cost of housing, food, and more intensive treatments, your outpatient treatment costs will generally be considerably lower.
Family and Community Focus: treatment in an outpatient rehab setting makes it much easier to keep a close connection with your family and surrounding community, to accept their support, and spend meaningful time with them. This setting allows you to build a supportive network in your daily life with those you love and cherish the most, giving you a powerful community to support you in your sobriety.

Types of Alcohol Rehabs in Denver

Holistic Alcohol Rehab

Holistic alcohol rehab in Denver is designed to blend physical, mental, and spiritual treatment that addresses alcohol use issues from all angles. The defining feature of holistic treatment is viewing you as a whole person and working to improve your overall well-being rather than focusing on isolated elements of your symptoms or behaviors. This can include a wide variety of therapeutic approaches for the body and mind, including:

Massage
Acupuncture
Yoga
Meditation and mindfulness
Biofeedback and neurofeedback
Herbal medicines

Christian and Faith-Based Rehab

If you want to look to a higher power for guidance during your recovery from alcohol use disorder, a faith-based rehab may be just what you are searching for. Faith-based alcohol rehabs in Denver guide you through treatment by incorporating faith-based elements and religious doctrine into the process, whereas other rehabs may take an entirely secular approach. In this style of rehab, you can pursue treatment centered around your religious beliefs with staff and fellow patients who share the values of unconditional love, forgiveness, community, and acceptance.

Luxury Alcohol Rehab

While all inpatient rehabs in Denver will strive for a high standard of comfort and care, luxury alcohol rehabs take that concept to the next level. These facilities offer amenities such as private rooms, upscale facilities, private therapy, exceptional cuisine, and additional benefits such as massage therapy, fitness studios, trainers, pools, saunas, hiking, horseback riding, and more. If you are looking for a rehab setting that emphasizes your recovery as well as your comfort and enjoyment during the process, luxury rehab is worth consideration.

Executive Rehab

For many Denver residents, a significant barrier in seeking alcohol addiction treatment is the feeling that you simply are not able to walk away from the responsibilities of your job. For many, particularly those in high-powered or high-stress positions, leaving your work behind for weeks or months may simply not be an option. Executive rehabs are residential treatment programs that allow you to maintain access to computers, phones, and other vital business amenities, so you can continue to uphold commitments to your professional duties. Not only will the staff in these facilities understand and support the needs and priorities of your work, but they will also teach you valuable coping skills to deal with the pressure of high-powered positions.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

In the world of substance use and mental health disorders, one rarely happens without the other; as a result, treatment of only one disorder at a time is not nearly as effective as addressing both together. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, one out of every four people diagnosed with a mental health disorder also meets the criteria for alcohol use disorder. Unfortunately, when these patients underwent treatment, only 8.3% of them were provided treatment for both disorders.²

Dual diagnosis occurs when you are diagnosed with both alcohol use and a mental health disorder, such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, or depression. Dual diagnosis rehabs provide you with a comprehensive assessment and appropriate diagnoses to develop appropriate treatments to fit your needs.

Depression and Alcoholism

Major depressive disorder is the most common psychiatric disorder that occurs along with alcohol use disorder; individuals with alcohol use disorder are nearly 4 times more likely to also have a major depressive disorder. Almost one in every three people in treatment for alcohol use disorder also meets the criteria for major depressive disorder, showing how prevalent depression can be for people struggling with alcohol dependence.

For those with both alcohol use disorder and depression, a dual diagnosis or holistic rehab is highly appropriate to address both issues safely, appropriately, and successfully.

Anxiety and Alcohol Addiction

Studies have shown that if you are receiving treatment for alcohol use disorder, there is a 50% chance you could also meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder. Compared to the general population, with an estimated 11% chance a person will possess a diagnosable anxiety disorder, this shows a clear connection between anxiety and alcohol dependence.⁴

Like depression, anxiety is, unfortunately, a very common disorder that co-exists with alcohol use disorder, and both should be treated accordingly during rehab. Holistic and dual diagnosis treatment programs are an ideal approach to address the mental health and substance use issues that require co-treatment.

PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is another mental health condition that commonly occurs with alcohol use disorder. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans with PTSD are more likely to have alcohol use disorder, and people with alcohol use disorder are more likely to have PTSD. Up to 75% of people who survived traumatic events report issues with alcohol use, and 60-80% of Vietnam veterans seeking PTSD treatment have alcohol use problems.⁵

If you are experiencing both PTSD and alcohol dependence, it is critical to get comprehensive treatment for both. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers many treatment resources for Veterans seeking help with PTSD and alcohol use disorder. For those dealing with PTSD who do not qualify for VA services, a dual diagnosis, holistic, or inpatient rehab should be considered for the treatment of both disorders together.

Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol Misuse

For individuals with bipolar disorder, there is a high chance of having alcohol use disorder also. According to recent studies, 40-70% of those diagnosed with bipolar disorder will also develop alcohol use disorder in their lifetime.⁶ Treatment for alcohol use and bipolar disorders should ideally include approaches including motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral, individual, and group therapy, as well as medication for mood stabilization when required.

Personality Disorders and Alcohol Addiction

In a report from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), it was shown that 42% of individuals diagnosed with a personality disorder also met the criteria for alcohol use disorder. Nearly 50% of the people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder demonstrated the criteria for diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder, and 68% of those diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder showed behavior consistent with alcohol use disorder diagnosis.⁷ A dual diagnosis rehab program will help provide the appropriate guidance, care, and treatment to navigate the complexities of a personality disorder co-occurring with alcohol use disorder.

Types of Addiction Therapy Used in Alcohol Rehab

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic approach that research has demonstrated to be an effective approach for treating individuals with alcohol use disorder. It is based on three main principles:

Psychological problems are partially based on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking.
Psychological problems are partially based on learned patterns of unhelpful behavior.
People suffering from these psychological problems can learn better ways of coping with them to reduce symptoms and become more effective in their lives.

CBT involves strategies for learning how to recognize distortions in your thinking and how to re-evaluate your thoughts, gain a better understanding of your behaviors and motivation, use problem-solving skills to better cope with challenging situations, and learn to develop an improved sense of confidence in your thoughts and abilities.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a modified version of CBT, with the main goals being to teach you how to live your life “in the moment,” to learn healthy methods of copings with stress, to better regulate your emotions, and to improve your personal relationships with friends and family. It emphasizes the practice of mindfulness, which helps you focus on the present moment rather than obsessing over past events or worrying about the future. This helps you pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, and what is happening in your immediate surroundings in a nonjudgmental way.

Mindfulness also teaches you to slow down and practice positive coping skills when experiencing emotional pain, which can help you remain calm and avoid engaging in automatic negative patterns of thought or impulsive behaviors.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Motivational Enhancement Therapy is a treatment approach that helps you if lacking the motivation to address your alcohol use disorder. Rather than taking you through a structured 12-step program, it works with individuals to create an internally motivated change and strengthen your motivation to build a recovery plan.

The process begins with an initial assessment session with a therapist, followed by two to four individual counseling sessions. These sessions work to elicit self-motivational statements, create strategies for ceasing alcohol consumption, and develop coping strategies for high-risk situations you may encounter. The process encourages a commitment to change and sustained abstinence, thereby promoting long-term changes that are internally motivated.

Contingency Management

In contingency management (CM) interventions, you receive a reward for meeting a treatment goal. Most commonly, you would receive cash, a voucher, or another prize for achieving a specific and measurable treatment goal, such as avoiding alcohol for a certain period. The accumulation of multiple goals can also earn larger rewards, incentivizing long-term commitment and adherence to the program. This approach can get implemented by clinicians, staff of rehab facilities, or even family members; anyone who is willing to work with you to develop a system of incentives and goals.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a common component of many alcohol rehabs in Denver. It can come in several different forms depending on the setting, clinicians, and treatment population.

Educational groups that teach about substance use disorders
Skills development groups that work to develop positive coping skills
Cognitive-behavioral groups that develop CBT skills to reassess thought, emotion, and behavior patterns
Support groups where members can share their experiences and provide mutual support

The common theme of group therapy is to create a network in which you can experience a sense of understanding, belonging, and support.

Family Therapy

Family therapy involves therapy sessions with members of your family and a therapist who can help you and your family resolve issues and negative patterns in your interactions. This helps to create an environment where you and your family can face issues and address misunderstandings and resentments to improve everyone’s well-being and cohesion. For many individuals, alcohol use disorder is greatly influenced by family dynamics, and addressing family issues affected by these disorders can often help to resolve underlying problems from which alcohol dependence started in the first place.

Should I Travel to Denver for Alcohol Rehab?

Many individuals travel to Denver every year for alcohol addiction treatment. This may be for many different reasons, such as:

They live in a nearby city or state that doesn’t offer the type of program they need.
They want a change of scenery.
They have loved ones who live in the area as a form of support.
Their insurance covers alcohol rehab in Denver.
They want amenities the rehabs in Denver offer.

A major benefit of traveling to Denver for rehab is that it provides you with an escape from your former triggers and associations with drinking alcohol. This can give you relief from many of the stressors in your daily life, which may have caused you to resort to alcohol as a coping mechanism. A change of scenery lets you start your treatment free of negative associations or destructive habits, giving you a greater chance of success.

Neighborhoods to Consider for Treatment in Denver

In addition to being an extremely walkable city, Denver boasts one of the nation’s most efficient public transportation systems, making it a particularly accessible city, even if you do not have a car. Three popular areas to consider for your treatment needs in Denver are Downtown, Lower Downtown, and Uptown. Downtown Denver, composed of many smaller neighborhoods, is the heart of the city, with a myriad of transportation options, treatment centers, dining, outdoor spaces, and attractions. Lower Downtown (LoDo) hosts Coors Field, historic neighborhoods, and a wide variety of shops, sights, and highly walkable areas. Uptown features the Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, a high concentration of eateries, and proximity to the 330-acre City Park.

Alcohol Laws in Denver

The Colorado 911 Good Samaritan law protects those who contact emergency services to report an alcohol overdose, ensuring they will not be prosecuted.
Statute 27-81-112 allows for a person to be involuntarily committed to a residential treatment facility if it can be proven in court that they habitually lack self-control as to the use of alcoholic beverages or use alcoholic beverages to the extent that their health is significantly impaired or endangered or social or economic function is substantially disrupted.
If someone is convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) in the state of Colorado, they may face time in jail or prison. This sentencing can be waived, however, if the offender agrees to enter an alcohol rehab program instead of imprisonment.

If you’re searching for alcohol rehab in Denver, we can help narrow down your options. Give us a call at 800-948-8417 Who Answers? to speak to a knowledgeable rehab support specialist today.

Resources

America’s Health Rankings analysis of CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation. (2021). Trend: Excessive Drinking, Colorado, United States.
Lesser, Ben. (2021). Significant Statistics, DualDiagnosis.org.
McHugh, R. (2019). Alcohol use disorder and depressive disorders. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 40(1).
Anker, J. (2019). Co-occurring alcohol use disorder and anxiety: Bridging the psychiatric, psychological, and neurobiological perspectives. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 40(1).
S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2021). PTSD and Problems with Alcohol Use.
Grunze, H., Schaefer, M., Scherk, H., Born, C., & Preuss, U. W. (2021). Comorbid bipolar and alcohol use disorder—a therapeutic challenge. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12.
Helle, A. (2019). Alcohol use disorder and antisocial and borderline personality disorders. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 40(1).