Adolescent Substance Treatment Services and STEP: Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment
Denver Health's Substance Abuse Treatment, Education and Prevention (STEP) Program supports clients up to the age of 21. We accept many insurance carriers, including Medicaid, as well as private pay clients. The STEP Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is 8 weeks long for a minimum of 6 hours a week. IOP is intended to provide regular therapeutic structure and support to best benefit the needs of qualified clients.
IOP consists of individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy during the week. There will also be a multi-family group therapy workshop on occasional Saturdays. Clients will be referred to a STEP medical provider for medication management support of mental health and substance use needs as appropriate.
How do I get started?
Clients interested in IOP will be scheduled to complete a STEP intake with a therapist. Following intake, appropriate clients will be referred to IOP if they qualify for higher level of care and begin IOP services.
Location: 660 Bannock St., Pavilion L, 4th floor, Denver, CO 80204
We are located on the fourth floor of the Outpatient Medical Center (Pavilion L) on the Denver Health Campus. Please take a left once you reach the fourth floor and walk to the end of the hall to check in with STEP / Outpatient Behavioral Health Services at Desk #5. Metered parking is available along Bannock St. and in two patient parking garages: one located at 7th and Delaware and the other next to Pavilion L.
Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. We are closed on all major holidays.
Meet One of Our Substance Use Providers
Mario Lintz, MD
STEP Medical Director, Adolescent Outpatient Behavioral Health
Adolescent Substance Treatment Services
Mario Lintz, MD, PhD, is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist who provides care for adolescents through Denver Health's Outpatient Behavioral Health Services. He earned his medical degree in 2018, completed his psychiatry residency in 2022, and then completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry - all through the University of Colorado.
The STEP Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is intended for youth ages 14-17 who qualify for greater therapeutic support that cannot be achieved in the general outpatient setting. STEP’s IOP is an 8-week program. The aim of the STEP Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is to provide intensive support and structure while helping youth begin to understand their relationship with substance use and struggles with mental health. The goal of IOP is to provide education, increase awareness and strengthen coping skills to equip youth with the necessary tools to make positive changes in their lives.
We created the Substance Abuse Treatment, Education and Prevention (STEP) Program to respond to the growing need for therapeutic support for young adults struggling with substance abuse. STEP is a strength-based program that focuses on acceptance and understanding. Our therapists meet clients where they are at and support them in achieving their self-identified goals. We understand that our clients have often been faced with shame and punishment around their substance use. This shame and punishment can be detrimental to their development and mental health.
When clients come to us they are often feeling alone and misunderstood. We understand that youth often use substances to manage painful emotions. The therapists at STEP hold a safe space to earn trust from our clients so that they feel comfortable sharing painful emotions and experiences. This process frees clients and families to move in directions that matter to them.
In therapy we collaborate with clients on their goals through evidence-based practices, including acceptance and commitment therapy and motivational interviewing. Our clients also provide voluntary urine drug screens. Based on these results we offer cash incentives for continued progress in sobriety and recovery. Psychiatric consultation and medication management are also available.
Intensive Outpatient Therapy is for qualified clients that have not been successful in a traditional outpatient setting and are identified as needing a higher level of care. Our clinicians will complete an assessment at intake to identify appropriate clients. Once identified, clients will be referred to engage in our IOP.
The goal of the STEP IOP program is to address safety and stabilization of substance use in youth, along with any co-occurring mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, and chronic stress.
We will focus on enhancing resilience through the development of self-understanding, problem-solving, and communication skills, while empowering youth to navigate their unique individual lives without the use of drugs.
We pride ourselves as encompassing trauma informed care coupled with a harm reduction and strength-based lens. Our program combines a variety of evidence-based interventions, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness-based Therapy, Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress, and Emotionally Focused Family Therapy.
- 8-week program
- Minimum commitment of 6 hours a week
- 2.5 hours of group therapy twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-6p)'
- Weekly Individual therapy
- Weekly family therapy
- Occasional Saturday family workshops
- Case management
- Psychiatry services
- Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Our IOP Curriculum Covers The Following Topics:
- Mindfulness
- Psychoeducation
- Managing Triggers
- 3 States of Mind: Emotional, Rational, Wise
- Distress Tolerance
- Emotional Regulation/Management
- Trauma Education
- Attachment and Family
- Relapse Prevention Planning
- Scheduling and routine building
- Identifying Personal Values
- Identifying internal and external triggers
- Setting boundaries
- Managing boredom
The school-based STEP program has staff placed in various Denver Public Schools (DPS) in the Denver community and is available to all DPS students. Once they graduate from DPS, students are able to continue their therapy with the STEP program located on the Denver Health main campus.
STEP also conducts clinical research that may result in effective, new treatments for adolescents and teens with substance abuse problems.
Substance Abuse Treatment, Education and Prevention (STEP) is a substance treatment program which specializes in working with adolescents.
We provide ongoing outpatient treatment services to support clients up to the age of 21.
We offer weekly individual, family, and group therapy as well as parental support to address substance use and mental health needs of our clients and their families.
In therapy we collaborate with clients on their goals through utilizing evidence based practices while offering support and guidance.
We are happy to serve people even if they aren’t ready to stop using. We work with clients who are at all difference places of readiness.
We offer incentives for continued progress in sobriety and recovery.
We specialize in medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorders for adolescents. The Denver Health Emergency Room facilitates a 24/7 intake for persons of all ages suffering with opioid use disorder.
Medication management is available for psychiatric support if needed as well.
