Substance abuse services in Denver

Substance Abuse Services

Relapse Prevention

This program was designed for voluntary and involuntary clients who wish to stay drug and alcohol-free. Relapse Prevention includes clients who are in their first attempt to stay sober and clients who have attempted sobriety one or several times in the past. The goal of the program is to provide a venue to talk about relapse issues and to learn new skills to prevent relapse in the future. The theoretical orientation of the group is very eclectic providing clients an opportunity to explore their relapse issues using cognitive/behavioral techniques, psychodrama techniques, and psychodynamic techniques.  The therapy approach is both evidence-based and cognitive-behavioral.

Topics and skills:

  • Strategies of change
  • Symptoms of recovery, depression and anxiety, dual diagnosis
  • Management to high-risk situations
  • Stress and anger management techniques
  • Co-dependency in recovery
  • Grief and loss, it’s effects on recovery and how to deal with feelings
  • Family issues in and out of recovery

This class has a 24-week format.  Each class has a different topic and depending on the topic will include instructional and/or experiential components along with class discussion.  Each class is approximately 2 hours long.

 

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

This program is designed to offer a comprehensive blend of therapeutic techniques in combination with a 12-stop orientation designed to assist participants in identifying and correcting potentially self-defeating cognitive behavioral patterns while establishing and maintaining a balanced lifestyle conducive to ongoing sobriety and recovery.

The interaction between substance abuse and criminal conduct is examined and the client is educated and trained in skills to identify and cope with both interpersonal processes that lead to criminal conduct and substance abuse.  The purpose of the program is to stabilize the client in early recovery and assists them in preventing relapse while avoiding criminal conduct behavior. 

Topics and skills:

  • Relapse prevention skills
  • Cognitive behavioral techniques
  • Refusal skills training
  • Interpersonal and relationship skills training
  • Life skills training
  • Identifying triggers
  • Identifying the consequences of use
  • Claiming personal ownership of alcohol or drug abuse/use
  • Maintaining sobriety

The 80-hour IOP program consists of 6 weeks of intensive treatment (three-hour therapy groups three times per week); followed by 12 weeks of aftercare group sessions (3 hours, once per week) Each class combines state-of-the-art information with experiential and written exercises designed to enhance skill development and reinforce learning.

  • Connection of thought to moods; physical reactions; behavior
  • Identifying and rating of moods
  • How to change automatic thoughts
  • Evaluating thoughts by establishing evidence and information of or against their validity
  • How to think carefully, logically, and rationally
  • Identifying cognitive distortions and faulty thinking
  • Identifying and modifying core beliefs about self, about others and the world
  • Problem-solving/decision-making methodology
  • Relapse and recidivism prevention

Opiate-Specific Substance Abuse Treatment

Enrollment and program-specific information here

Heroin use in Denver is dramatically increasing in part due to the “switchover” when prescriptions for opiate-based pain medications run out.  Recreational use of opiates is a persistent substance abuse issue.

The opiate class of drugs includes codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, heroin, oxycodone, and others.  Often called “pain killers,” these drugs decrease reactions to pain while also increasing tolerance, and are commonly prescribed for intense or chronic pain.  Opioids can also produce a feeling of euphoria that may lead to prescription abuse, recreational use, and chemical dependence.

To address the use and overuse that we see in our communities today, CTO has adapted the Hazelden Matrix® Model.  The Matrix Model is an evidence-based, protocol utilizing, cognitive-behavioral approach that, in combination with 12-Step principles, has been used to treat thousands of individuals with this chemical dependence. 

The minimum length of treatment is 16 weeks, and Medicaid benefits can apply. A wide range of options are available for aftercare treatment, to help ensure the transition to sobriety is maintained.

This program addresses problems seen in opiate-abusing clients as well as chronic pain clients and is adapted to intervene with opiate users.  The updated Matrix Model is focused on early recovery skills, relapse prevention, family education, and social support.

Created and facilitated by a certified addictions counselor, this program has also been adapted to meet the structured needs of law-involved clients, with required sobriety/substance monitoring and a focus on criminal thinking and re-entry issues.

Sobriety Monitoring Options:

Randomized and observed collection, with Norchem laboratory testing services available.

 

Marijuana Abstinence Program (MAP)

This program is specifically designed for the unique needs of the marijuana user.  The material and information presented in this group are based upon the most current research which integrates a mind-body approach with practical and useful information tailored for marijuana users and marijuana dependent individuals. 

This twenty-week program was designed to support and assist an individual through the early recovery and withdrawal period but then switches focus to address coping strategies and relapse prevention skills.  This is a closed group format, which enables the group members to support and motivate one another in their recovery process.  

Topics and skills:

  • Relapse prevention skills.
  • Mind-body techniques used to address withdrawal symptoms.
  • Cognitive-behavioral techniques used to address cognitive distortions.
  • Stress reduction techniques.
  • Psycho-educational topics address neurobiological issues related to the use of THC.
  • Nutritional awareness.
  • Dependency symptoms specific to THC use.

This class has a 20-week format and each class combines state of the art information and experiential and written exercises designed to enhance skill development and reinforce learning.  Each group length is approximately 2 hours.

 

Level II Poly-Drug Education

This program is designed to educate and address the individual on multiple drug and alcohol use. Level II Poly-Drug Education is an open format that involves interaction among group members. The structure of the material helps enlighten people on potential abuse of cannabis, stimulants,  alcohol, prescription drugs, and cross-addiction issues. This 12-week program is intended to not just address poly-drug use, but also to have the individual focus on general relapse prevention skills, anger management skills, and stress management skills. The individual will have a better understanding of the biological, psychological, environmental, and family and social (peer pressure) factors that may be an adjunct to poly-drug and alcohol use.

Topics and skills:

  • Education on poly-drugs i.e. cannabis, stimulants, alcohol, prescription drugs  
  • Cross addiction issues.
  • Relapse, anger, and stress management skills.
  • Decision-making skills.
  • Communication skills.
  • Biological, psychological, environmental, family, social factors that may have an impact on the individual and use.
  • HIV/AIDS awareness.
  • Nutrition/health awareness.

Each class combines state-of-the-art information with experiential and written exercises designed to enhance skill development and reinforce learning. Each group length is approximately 2 hours.

 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

This evidence-based program is an interactive therapy group, that targets unhealthy coping mechanisms and teaches behavioral change skills in the areas of addiction and emotional dysregulation. The program content is specifically focused on four areas:

  1. Mindfulness and self-awareness
  2. Emotion regulation
  3. Distress tolerance;
  4. Interpersonal effectiveness.

Theoretical orientation of the program is cognitive/behavioral using material from Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, The Angry Heart:  An Interactive Self-Help Guide to Overcoming Borderline and Addictive Disorders, Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, and Working with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman.

Topics and skills:

  • Skills for decreasing interpersonal chaos and identifying relapse and emotional triggers
  • Components of the environment: physical reactions, thoughts, moods, behaviors
  • Connection of thoughts to moods, physical reactions, and behaviors
  • Skills for decreasing impulsiveness by identifying emotional vulnerability
  • Skills for decreasing cognitive and emotional dysregulation
  • Increasing interpersonal skills by balancing priorities and demands
  • Identifying cognitive distortions and faulty thinking
  • Identifying and modifying core beliefs about self, others, and the world
  • Problem-solving/decision-making methodology – making decisions from a  balanced combination of a rational and emotional basis

This class has a 36-week format and each class combines state of the art information and experiential and written exercises designed to enhance skill development and reinforce learning.  Each group length is approximately 2 hours.

 

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (Cog)

This program was designed for anyone needing to improve their critical reasoning skills with the goal of improving the quality of their decisions and actions leading to outcomes that are more positive.  The program content is specifically focused on four areas:

  1. learning and improving cognitive skills;
  2. improving the quality of decisions;
  3. enhancing positive behaviors;
  4. preventing alcohol/drug relapse and criminal behavior recidivism. 

Theoretical orientation of the program is cognitive/behavioral using material from the Beck Institute and concepts from Change Your Mind, Change Your Life by Dr. Daniel Amen.

Topics and skills:

  • Definitions of: cognition;
  • Cognitive/behavioral therapy;
  • Emotions;
  • Core beliefs;
  • Automatic thoughts
  • Components of the environment: physical reaction, thoughts moods, behavior
  • Connection of thought to moods; physical reactions; behavior Identifying and rating of moods
  • How to change automatic thoughts
  • Evaluating thoughts by establishing evidence and information of or against their validity
  • How to think carefully, logically, and rationally Identifying cognitive distortions and faulty thinking Identifying and modifying core beliefs about: self, about others and the world
  • Problem-solving/decision-making methodology
  • Relapse and recidivism prevention

This class has a 24-week format and each class combines state of the art information with experiential and written exercises designed to enhance skill development and reinforce learning.  Each group length is approximately 2 hours.

 

Stimulant Treatment Outpatient Program (STOP)

This program is designed to address the specific issues surrounding stimulant use.  The Stimulant Treatment Outpatient Program (STOP) is a highly structured, interactive therapy group that is designed to stabilize the individual and to help them develop new coping mechanisms and relapse prevention skills.  Although this program meets the specific needs of stimulant abusers who are involved in the criminal just system, the material is applicable to any adult who is using stimulants.  This 24-week open-ended program allows flexible entry points. 

STOP is a research-based program and is designed to address the unique experience of the stimulant user.  

Topics and skills:

  • Basic education component, which provides general stimulant information, its abuse potential, its physiological/neurological effects, and current research
  • Relapse prevention skills
  • Cognitive-behavioral techniques
  • Refusal skills training Interpersonal and relationship skills training
  • Life skills training

This class has a 24-week format and each class combines state of the art information with experiential and written exercises designed to enhance skill development and reinforce learning.  Each group length is approximately 2 hours.

 

Strategies for Self-Improvement and Change (SSC)

This program was designed to address issues that the substance-abusing offender presents to the treatment specialists.  Through an intensive cognitive-behavioral based treatment curriculum, the interaction between substance abuse and criminal conduct is examined and the client is educated and trained in skills to identify and cope with both interpersonal processes that lead to criminal conduct and substance abuse. 

The purpose of this program is also to stabilize the client in early recovery and assist them in preventing relapse while avoiding criminal conduct behavior.  Designed by Kenneth W. Wanberg, Ph.D., and Harvey B. Milkman, Ph.D., the program consists of three discrete phases. 

  • Phase I consists of 18 sessions (36 hours),
  • Phase II is 22 sessions (44) hours, and
  • Phase III is 10 sessions (20 hours). Check with the group facilitator regarding enrollment opportunities.

Topics and skills:

  • Phase I: Challenge to Change
  • Phase II: Commitment to Change
  • Phase III: Ownership to Change
  • STRUCTURE & FORMAT:

This is a long term program (nine months to one year) consisting of weekly classes with each class broken down into six discrete parts: 1) rationale for session; 2) objectives for session; 3) session content and process; 4) classroom and homework assignments; 5) outline of the presentation sequence; and 6) session and client evaluation.