Substance Abuse Treatment

Date Posted: 01/04/2007

The Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division collects data from all substance abuse treatment programs in the state that receive public (federal and state) funds that comprise 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 - Colorado & Larimer County, 2005

Data Source: Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division

See data table

What this chart shows: Treatment Admissions by Drug Type, Excluding Alcohol - Colorado & Larimer County, 2005

Data Source: Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division

See data table

What these data tell us:

In 2005, Larimer County and Colorado reported the highest number of treatment admissions were for alcohol abuse, almost 40% of all admissions. The next highest treatment category, marijuana, had similar percentages for both populations, 34.8% for Colorado and 36.4% for Larimer County. According to the National Survey on Drug Use & Health (NSDUH), Colorado consistently ranks among the top five states for illicit marijuana use.

Methamphetamine (meth) admissions to treatment were markedly greater for Larimer County (29.7%), than the Colorado average (19%). In 2005, when admissions for alcohol treatment are excluded, nearly 50% of all other admissions were identified as being associated with meth. From 2003 to 2005, meth treatment admissions for Larimer County residents more than doubled. See Larimer County Methamphetamine Crisis, for more information on individual, family and community problems associated with meth use in Larimer County.

*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 - Colorado & Larimer County, 2005

Data Source: Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division

See data table

What these data tell us:

In 2005, Larimer County had a higher percentage of residents under 35 admitted to substance abuse treatment than Colorado as a whole. Most striking was the high percentage of young adults between 18 and 24 (28% or 250 adults), which may partially be explained by the presence of the university in Fort Collins and student overuse of alcohol and drugs.

Larimer County adults age 25 to 34 were the next largest group to receive treatment (242 adults). In 2002, 2.7% of persons aged 12 or older nationwide (about 6.3 million persons) needed but did not receive treatment for an illicit drug problem (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004).

What this chart shows: Substance Abuse Treatment by Gender - Larimer County, 2005

Data Source: Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division

See data table

What these data tell us:

The percentage of Larimer County females admitted for some form of treatment increased slightly each year since 2003. In 2005, 326 local admissions were female and 562 admissions were male. According to a report from SAMHSA, How Men and Women Enter Substance Abuse Treatment, differences in treatment admissions between genders include:

• Women are much more likely than men to be in treatment for 'hard' drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, and less likely to be there for alcohol or marijuana abuse.
• Men most typically are referred to treatment through the criminal justice system, 39% compared to 25% of women. Women initiated treatment themselves or were referred by a family member or friend most frequently (37%).

What this chart shows: Substance Abuse Treatment by Race/Ethnicity - Colorado & Larimer County, 2005

Data Source: Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division

See data table

What these data tell us:

Larimer County residents who were admitted to treatment were more likely to be 'White' than the Colorado average (75.7% versus 64.2%). This trend is evident in the previous two years of data as well.

Hispanic/Latinos were over-represented in Larimer County, with 19.5% of all treatment admissions, compared to a representation of 8.3% in the total County population.

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 'www.streetdrugs.org-Partners in Training and Education' and from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration www.dea.gov:

• Alcohol-A legal depressant, 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), which are used to treat anxiety, tension, and sleep disorders.
• Benzodiazeine Tranquilizer-Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide HCl (Librium), and alprazolam (Xanax), which 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 as an anti-anxiety, 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. The 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're 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 preanesthetic 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.

On Compass-

• Adult Alcohol & Drug Arrests
• Adult Alcohol Use
• Adult Tobacco Use
• Alcohol Related Traffic Fatalities
• Juvenile Alcohol & Drug Arrests
• Perinatal Alcohol and Tobacco Use
• Youth Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

Outside Compass-

• The Costs and Effectiveness of Substance Use Disorder Programs in the State of Colorado a report to the General Assembly House and Senate Committees on Health and Human Services - submitted by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD), Colorado Department of Human Services, October 2006
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD), Colorado Department of Human Services, Patterns And Trends In Drug Abuse: Denver and Colorado, June 2006, Tamara Hoxworth, Research Analyst
• 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.
• Drug Enforcement Administration - Updated 2006 Colorado Fact Sheet
• National Institute on Drug Abuse, Men and Women in Drug Abuse Treatment Relapse at Different Rates and for Different Reasons
• Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Treatment in the Criminal Justice System
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
• The National Women's Health Information Center, www.4woman.gov, Drug Abuse and Treatment (pertaining to women)
• United States Department of Health and Human Services, Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment for Parents and Welfare Recipients: Outcomes, Costs, and Benefits
• World Health Organization, Neuroscience of Psychoactive Substance Use and Dependence

Industry Standards or Targets:

Healthy People 2010:

• Increase the proportion of persons who are referred for follow-up care for alcohol problems, drug problems, or suicide attempts after diagnosis or treatment for one of these conditions in a hospital emergency department.
• Increase the number of admissions to substance abuse treatment for injection drug use.
• Increase the proportion of inmates receiving substance abuse treatment in correctional institutions.
• Reduce the treatment gap for illicit drugs in the general population.

Data Tables:

Treatment by Primary Substance, Colorado & Larimer County, 2005

Tx Admissions - Including Alcohol	Colorado	Larimer	Colorado	Larimer	Colorado	Larimer
Substance Type	2003	2003	2004	2004	2005	2005
Alcohol	37.8%	47.5%	40.7%	41.7%	38.8%	38.5%
Marijuana	22.0%	23.7%	21.9%	22.6%	21.3%	22.4%
Cocaine	12.3%	4.8%	12.4%	6.9%	11.3%	5.6%
Methamphetamine	14.5%	18.2%	15.8%	23.4%	19.0%	29.7%
Heroin	8.7%	1.6%	5.3%	1.5%	5.6%	1.1%
Other Opiates	2.8%	2.1%	2.6%	2.1%	2.8%	1.9%
Other	1.8%	2.1%	1.3%	1.9%	1.2%	0.7%
Total	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%

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

Treatment by Primary Substance, Excluding Alcohol-Colorado & Larimer County, 2003

Drug Type	Larimer County
Methamphetamine/Other Amphetamines	30.1%
Marijuana / Hashish	42.9%
Heroin	3.0%
Other Opiate/ Synthetic Opiate	4.9%
Cocaine / Crack	11.3%
Other Stimulants	3.4%
Other	4.4%

See chart

Treatment by Age-Colorado & Larimer County, 2003

		Colorado	Larimer County	Colorado	Larimer County	Colorado	Larimer County
Age	Number/%	2003	2003	2004	2004	2005	2005
17 & Under	Number	2,603	117	2,932	109	2,631	121
	%	13.6%	17.4%	12.2%	12.2%	10.8%	13.6%
18 thru 24	Number	3,606	168	5,005	252	5,282	250
	%	18.8%	25.0%	20.8%	28.2%	21.6%	28.2%
25 thru 34	Number	5,210	180	6,448	278	6,769	242
	%	27.2%	26.8%	26.9%	31.1%	27.7%	27.3%
35 thru 44	Number	4,924	144	5,857	175	5,860	186
	%	25.7%	21.5%	24.4%	19.6%	24.0%	20.9%
45 thru 54	Number	2,307	52	3,066	72	3,098	74
	%	12.1%	7.7%	12.8%	8.0%	12.7%	8.3%
55 thru 64	Number	432	7	621	9	668	14
	%	2.3%	1.0%	2.6%	1.0%	2.7%	1.6%
65 & Over	Number	56	3	85	0	110	1
	%	0.3%	0.4%	0.4%	0.0%	0.5%	0.1%
Total	Number	19,138	671	24,014	895	24,418	888
	%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%

See chart

Treatment by Gender-Colorado & Larimer County, 2003-2005

Larimer County
Gender	Number/%	2003	2004	2005
Male	Number	462	583	562
	Percentage	68.9%	65.1%	63.3%
Female	Number	209	312	326
	Percentage	31.1%	34.9%	36.7%
Total	Number	671	895	888
	Percentage	100%	100%	100%
Colorado
Gender	Number/%	2003	2004	2005
Male	Number	12,444	16,107	16,268
	Percentage	65.0%	67.1%	66.6%
Female	Number	6,694	7,907	8,150
	Percentage	35.0%	32.9%	33.4%
Total	Number	19,138	24,014	24,418
	Percentage	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

See chart

Treatment by Race/Ethnicity -Colorado & Larimer County, 2003-2005

		Colorado	Larimer County	Colorado	Larimer County	Colorado	Larimer County
Race/Ethnicity	Number/%	2003	2003	2004	2004	2005	2005
White	Number	12,181	514	15,311	689	15,667	672
	%	63.6%	76.6%	63.8%	77.0%	64.2%	75.7%
Black	Number	1,681	17	1,999	13	1,934	12
	%	8.8%	2.5%	8.3%	1.5%	7.9%	1.4%
Amer Ind/Alaskan	Number	398	12	611	21	590	21
	%	2.1%	1.8%	2.5%	2.3%	2.4%	2.4%
Asian	Number	89	1	106	2	127	2
	%	0.5%	0.1%	0.4%	0.2%	0.5%	0.2%
Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander	Number	84	2	184	1	142	3
	%	0.4%	0.3%	0.8%	0.1%	0.6%	0.3%
Hispanic/Latino	Number	4,545	121	5,625	165	5,799	173
	%	23.7%	18.0%	23.4%	18.4%	23.7%	19.5%
Other NonHisp	Number	160	4	178	4	159	5
	%	0.8%	0.6%	0.7%	0.4%	0.7%	0.6%
Total	Number	19,138	671	24,014	895	24,418	888
	%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

See chart

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