Boulder Drug & Alcohol Rehab, Detox & Treatment Resources

Boulder is home to the University of Colorado Boulder. It is only a half an hour away from Denver and is a centrally located town with its own diverse art and food scene. There are more than 30 art galleries in the area, and it is home to many notable festivals, including the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and the Colorado Music Festival. There are approximately 100,000 residents in the area, and its laid-back community makes it a welcome place for people to live and visit.

Unfortunately, Boulder has an underlying issue of substance abuse. However, the heroin epidemic seems to have escaped the area in comparison to the rest of Colorado. In nearby Denver, the city struggles with a heroin epidemic. That isn’t to say that opiate use isn’t present in Boulder, though.

Similar to other places seeing an increase in opioid abuse, the speculation is that people begin by abusing pharmaceuticals and then they move on to cheaper options.

Our Closest Facility:
The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake Drug & Alcohol Rehab
443 S. Hwy 105, Palmer Lake, CO 80133
(719) 602-0914

In addition, CU Boulder has students who grapple with alcohol misuse. Even so, alcohol and marijuana usage were reportedly decreasing as of 2016, reflected by a decrease in the number of alcohol and drug citations, cut almost in half between 2011 and 2013. Legalization of marijuana in the state has actually lowered the use of cannabis. Regardless of statistics, there are people everywhere struggling with addiction. Whether it’s an addiction to prescription opioids, heroin or alcohol, there are people who need professional help to address their misuse problems.

Finding Alcohol and Drug Rehab in Boulder, Colorado

Boulder, Colorado Alcohol Rehab Centers and Drug Centers

It takes bravery and commitment to enter a Boulder drug treatment facility or rehabilitation program. Many people enter and complete drug or alcohol treatment more than once. That’s okay. It’s not how many times you fall down that defines you, but how many times you get back up and try again. Whether it’s your first time entering a Boulder drug rehab or you’re repeating a recovery plan, take some time to consider which type of program is best for your needs. All drug and alcohol abuse programs require a time commitment on your part, with a month being the minimum time required to complete most plans.

Residential Treatment Programs

Residential treatment plans may last a month to six months. Patients check in and remain at the treatment facility for the duration of the program. A structured schedule of daily activities keeps you busy getting your life back on track, and may include a combination of medical exams, mental health counseling, educational gatherings and behavioral therapy. You may be prescribed medications to soothe any anxiety or other effects of weaning yourself from drugs and alcohol. The primary benefits of inpatient drug rehab are twofold. First, you have your basic needs met so you can focus on getting well. Second, you’re removed from people, easy access and situations that may trigger you to use drugs or alcohol in weak moments.

Partial Hospitalization Programs

It’s not always possible to stay long-term in a Boulder alcohol treatment facility or drug rehab center, either for personal or financial reasons. Perhaps you must help your partner or child, or you have severe anxiety about sleeping away from your own home. A partial hospitalization program gives you all of the organized activities of a residential program with the security of being in your own bedroom each night. You will need to show that you can refrain from accessing drugs or alcohol when you return home from the treatment program each night, and you’ll be tested to make certain you’re being honest.

Outpatient Treatment Programs

Outpatient substance-abuse treatment programs are a lifeline for people who don’t believe they have time to go to rehab. If you can’t quit working or attending college, you can still get help with your drug and alcohol misuse disorder. An intake counselor will help you determine which classes, therapies and other treatment features will help you, and these activities will be scheduled to work with your other commitments. As with partial hospitalization therapy, you must be strong enough to resist temptation and have strong support to keep you on track.

There are many options when it comes to beginning your treatment, and there’s no right or wrong answer. It’s your own recovery, and you can choose what’s best for you. Depending on your needs, you may want a full program where you can take a break and get a better hold on life. Or, you may want to get your feet wet in an outpatient program, learning more about what recovery is all about. It’s simply the first step that is the most important. Also take into consideration the location of your programs. Perhaps you’d be best served by attending an inpatient program out-of-town, and returning for an outpatient drug rehab in Boulder.

Boulder Drug & Alcohol Detox Centers

Detoxification is the first step in the recovery process, often a necessity even before learning the necessary skills to get through each day without substance misuse. This process involves cleansing the body of the drug. This challenging stage of recovery typically comes with uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. By utilizing certified and professional Boulder drug detox, a patient can be medically monitored and assisted during their withdrawal. 

Some patients think that they can handle the symptoms of drug detox themselves by reducing their drug use over time. However, this technique can cause bodily harm and open up the door to relapse and increased drug misuse. Instead of trying to self-detox with no professional assistance, many medical professionals recommend people detox with the support of a Boulder alcohol detox program or drug detox program in order to ensure a safe and comfortable detox process.

Recovery Meetings Near You

When people go back to enjoying their daily lives, they may face daily temptation desires, and negative habits. To stay on track and continue learning, as a part of an aftercare program it’s a good idea to attend recovery meetings. These meetings take place all across the United States in big cities and small towns. They occur in public places such as local churches, recovery clinics and coffee shops. The goal of these meetings is to help attendees maintain sobriety, and to give them new tools to help them meet their goals.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are confidential and help people maintain sobriety. The group setting allows people the opportunity to meet others and exchange support. The group discusses important topics alongside the 12-step program. AA has been a very effective sobriety tool for countless numbers of people.

St. Andrews Church
3700 Baseline Rd.
Boulder, CO 80303

First United Methodist Church
5375 Western Ave.
Boulder, CO 80301

Mental Health Partners
3180 Airport Rd.
Boulder, CO 80301

Learn More About AA Meetings in Colorado

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Meetings

NA has its own program to help those with various narcotic substance misuse issues. The meetings are free and open to anyone who would like to attend. Like AA, NA relies on spirituality, but not on a particular religion.

St. Andrew Church
3700 Baseline Rd.
Boulder, CO 80303

First United Methodist Church
5375 Western Ave.
Boulder, CO 80301

Boulder Valley Assembly of God
3901 Pinon Dr.
Boulder, CO 80303

Learn More About NA Meetings in Colorado

SMART Recovery Meetings

SMART Recovery meetings are also available as an alternative to AA and NA. They differ from each other in that SMART Recovery meetings have a foundation in science. It is also not a 12-step program. SMART Recovery meetings offer an online forum and chat room as well, which can be welcome additions to in-person meetings.

Living Well Transitions
1320 Pearl St.
Boulder, Colorado 80302

Global Goods & Coffee Shop
5613 Olde Wadsworth Blvd.
Arvada, Colorado 80002

IHOP
5280 Wadsworth Bypass
Arvada, Colorado 80002

Al-Anon and Nar-Anon Meetings

When someone is struggling with substance misuse, his or her actions also affect the people who love that person. Al-Anon and Nar-Anon is available for these people. These meetings help family and friends understand their place in the struggle, equip them with knowledge and tools and provide them with a network of other people who understand what they are experiencing.

Al-Anon
York Street Club
1311 York St.
Denver, CO 80206

Nar-Anon
Evanston Center
2122 S. Lafayette St.
Denver, Colorado 80210

Boulder is fairly close to Denver, and there are over 190 clinics in the overall area.

Addiction Resources in Nearby Colorado Cities

For those who are seeking alcohol and drug treatment facilities outside of Boulder, Colorado, there are also many drug rehab resources across the state of Colorado: