Walk-in intakes for Substance Treatment: M-F, present between 6:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Addiction Recovery Center and Prescription-Based Suboxone Treatment (DHARC)
The Denver Health Addiction Recovery Center provides treatment to adults for all substance use disorders and alcohol use disorders and offers prescription-based Suboxone (buprenorphine) and other medication options.
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Our Services
- Individual and group therapy
- Intensive outpatient treatment (IOP)
- Medication-assisted treatment for alcohol and/or opioid use (including Suboxone, Sublocade, Brixadi, Naltrexone, Vivitrol, Antabuse)
- Urine testing
- Co-occurring mental health assessments/services
- Care coordination and referrals to higher or lower levels of treatment as medically indicated
We work from a client-centered approach and treat patients with respect and unconditional positive regard. We help them to have the capacity to find their own answers and move toward growth and healing. In addition, each of our clinicians specializes in one of the following therapeutic frameworks or interventions; Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dual Diagnosis and Mindfulness.
Patients are offered individual therapy as frequently as weekly. It is also an option for them to include family members who need to better understand substance use and the treatment process in sessions with them. Patients also meet with their doctor as frequently as weekly for medication management for both substance use and mental health issues if appropriate. In this program, treatment includes substance use education, relapse prevention, and groups designed to improve coping and life skills. Patients also may receive psychiatric evaluation for medications. Urinalysis may be required.
Conditions we treat and Treatment
- All substance use disorders
- Urine testing
- Medication management
- Individual and group counseling
- Medication for alcohol and/or opioid use
- Case Management Services
- Co-occurring mental health assessment and treatment
- Referrals to higher or lower levels of treatment as medically indicated
Methadone and Suboxone Opioid (OMAT)
Denver Health offers treatment with medication for opioid use disorders utilizing Methadone and Suboxone (buprenorphine) as opioid therapy for patients meeting specific criteria for admission.
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Methadone and Suboxone are FDA-approved medications used to prevent withdrawal symptoms in people who are dependent on opioids such as heroin, morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone and fentanyl.
Our Services
An individual treatment plan is developed with your physician and counselors to facilitate successful treatment. Patients in the program receive a high level of professional support to remain free from opioids and other substances. Psychiatrists are available to treat patients that may have additional mental health conditions to provide the best chance of success. All patients also receive individual and group therapy as indicated. Each patient's progress is closely monitored, and the patient maybe asked to attend group or individual sessions to receive closer supervision.
Treatment at Denver Health for Opioid Use Disorder includes:
- Individualized treatment planning
- Dispensary medication dosing
- Co-occurring mental health assessments/services
- Peer services available
- Case management
- Referrals to higher or lower levels of treatment as medically indicated
- Urine testing
As patients progress through their treatment, they may earn more take-home doses of medication rather than having to visit our dispensary dosing clinic.
We accept many insurance carriers, including Medicaid, as well as private pay clients.
Hours of Operation
- Walk-in intakes for Methadone and Suboxone Opioid Treatment: M-F present before 10:30 a.m.
- Specialty therapy and clinical services: M-F, 6 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Specialty medication dosing: M-F, 5:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Sat, 6 - 9 a.m.
Conditions and Treatment
- Methadone and Suboxone medication
- Individual & group counseling
- Case management
- Individualized treatment planning and relapse prevention plans
- Peer Services available
- Co-occurring mental health assessment and treatment
- Referrals to higher or lower levels of treatment as medically indicated
- Urine testing
- Other medication management
Women and Family Services - Substance Use Recovery Program (WFS)
The Women and Family Services program is a dual diagnosis program designed specifically to help patients who are pregnant, 2 years postpartum, parenting adults with open DHS cases or parenting adults with dependents 12 and younger.
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Our Services
- Medication for addiction treatment
- Gender specific group
- Gender-responsive treatment to address physical, psychological, emotional and sociopolitical issues for patients
- Individual counseling
- Trauma-informed treatment to address the way patients respond to their trauma and develop coping skills
- Case Management Services
- Peer Recovery Coaching
Motivational incentives to acknowledge achievements with sobriety, family, education, employment and community
Integrated prenatal care that addresses the significant and delicate issues of pregnant women, offered by our physicians who specialize in both addiction medicine and family medicine. Finances are never a barrier for pregnant women.
Social Services: this program serves families with open child welfare cases to reunify families and promote a drug free and emotionally stable lifestyle.
Our Treatment Philosophy
Substance treatment occurs in individual and group settings with case management services available. Evaluation and on-going treatment with psychotherapy and/or psychiatric medications for mental health issues is available. Children exhibiting behavioral and/or emotional difficulties are referred to the child and adolescent specialists with Behavioral Health Services.
Our Professional Team
The Women and Family Services team is made up of clinicians with dual certifications in mental health and substance use disorders who are trained to address the multifaceted needs of patients. The team engages in specific trainings to best support this population, addressing issues ranging from trauma, child and infant loss, domestic violence and parenting. Team members always ensure the safety and confidentiality of every parent.
The opioid epidemic requires Denver Health to envision a different care practice. We provide support for people who use drugs, including 24/7-access to treatment for opioid dependence and treatment of withdrawal symptoms for all substances in our emergency department. We are expanding access to Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT), working to transform treatment into an on-demand service including biological, psychological and social evaluations, known as the Center for Addiction Medicine at Denver Health.
Our Goal
Improve treatment access and retention
Strategy
Increase participation/enrollment of people with substance use disorders in treatment services
Activity
Reduce barriers to rapid intake for all Behavioral Health needs.
Denver Health's expert care teams include physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, clinical psychologists, social workers, professional counselors, case managers and peers. Outpatient Behavioral Health Services offers professional, multi-disciplinary substance and mental health treatment through a number of specialized clinical care teams. Substance treatment includes Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) (methadone and buprenorphine (Suboxone)) through a licensed narcotic treatment program (methadone clinic) plus buprenorphine (both films/tablets and long-acting injections) and depo-naltrexone through office-based opioid treatment. Denver Health provides patients on MAT with care that includes intensive outpatient and transitional residential treatment. The system also includes specialized services for women with dependent children, addiction services for pregnant women, co-occurring psychiatric support and access to MAT within primary care.
Methadone Clinic
A methadone clinic (Narcotic Treatment Program) is a clinic which has been established for the dispensing of methadone for the sole purpose of opioid use disorder. Patients are asked to attend the clinic for medication and therapy services. Medication is dispensed, or through take home medication as appropriate for the clinical situation. For patients who do not wish to discontinue the use of an illicit substance, you are still welcome in this clinic setting but take-home medications will be limited to no more than 1 week at a time.
Denver Health’s methadone clinic provides both methadone and buprenorphine (Suboxone).
Denver Health Addiction Recovery Center (DHARC)
DHARC is a level one outpatient clinic providing clinical support to patients with all substance use disorders not needing methadone. In this clinic, patients can receive psychiatric and substance use care, can work with a counselor one on one or in groups, may have the support of a case manager, and have the option to enroll in our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Medications for DHARC patients are provided through the pharmacy rather than dispensed through the NTP (methadone clinic). This is the most common route for patients wanting to use buprenorphine to help treat opioid use disorder. We also treat other use disorders including alcohol, stimulants (methamphetamine and cocaine), and marijuana, just to name a few.
Methadone
A synthetic opioid prescribed to treat opioid use disorder. Methadone can only be provided by a licensed narcotic treatment program; commonly referred to as a ‘methadone clinic.’
Buprenorphine (Commonly known under the brand-name Suboxone)
Buprenorphine is a narcotic medication used to treat opioid use disorder. It is commonly known under the brand name Suboxone. Buprenorphine can be provided either through a Narcotic Treatment Program, or by prescription. Buprenorphine no longer requires special training for prescribers and thus any provider with an active DEA license can prescribe this. We offer buprenorphine medication at all levels of our services, including in primary care.
Benefits of Methadone and Buprenorphine (Suboxone)
Methadone and Buprenorphine (Suboxone) stop the effects of withdrawal, decrease the cravings for opioids, block the effects of opioid misuse and reduce relapse. Unlike heroin, fentanyl and other short-acting opioids, the effects of methadone and buprenorphine last 24 hours, so patients only need to take it once a day in most cases.
Naltrexone (Commonly known under the brand-name Vivitrol)
Extended-release injectable naltrexone is another medication tool that can help with opioid use disorder. It is commonly known under the brand name Vivitrol. Injectable Naltrexone can be provided by any healthcare provider who is licensed to prescribe medications. The medication can also be provided within a narcotic treatment program. Naltrexone binds to and effectively blocks opioid receptors. It prevents receptors from responding to opioids and is reported to reduce opioid cravings.
Drug users often start out as occasional users. As time passes, a person goes from voluntary to compulsive drug use because, over time, addictive drugs change the brain in destructive ways.
Drug addiction is similar to other diseases of the body, such as heart disease, because it disrupts the normal, healthy functioning of the underlying organ, has serious harmful consequences, is preventable, treatable, and if left untreated, can last a lifetime.
Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) does not cure opioid addiction. It treats it. Like other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, addiction is treatable and can be managed successfully.
We offer substance use screening, referrals, information related to Suboxone/Methadone and non-OUD treatment options. For screening or information, call 303-436-5711.
Substance Treatment Phone Line
303-436-5711, calls are answered Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (excluding holidays)
This line is staffed by experienced substance treatment experts who can provide brief screening, recommendations, and guidance to individuals, friends/families, and other professionals on accessing substance treatment both here at Denver Health, and through other programs in our Denver community and surrounding areas.
If you are a provider looking to adopt Medication Assisted Treatment into your medical practice, please reach out to Denver Health’s Center for Addiction Medicine Academy at CAM@dhha.org.
