The National Survey on Drug Use and Health
(NSDUH) generates state-level estimates for 23
measures of substance use and mental health problems
for four age groups: the entire state population over the age of
12 (12+); individuals age 12 to 17; individuals age 18 to 25;
and individuals age 26 and older (26+). Since state estimates
of substance use and abuse were first generated using the
combined 2002 2003 NSDUHs and continuing until the
most recent state estimates based on the combined 2005 2006
surveys, Colorado has ranked among the 10 States with the
highest rates on the following measures (Tabe 1).
| Measure | Age Groups |
| Past Month Illicit Drug Use | 12+, 26+ |
| Past Year Marijuana Use | 12-17 |
| Least Perception of Risk Associated with Using Marijuana
Once or Twice a Month | 12+, 26+ |
| Past Month Use of an Illicit Drug Other than Marijuana | 18-25 |
| Past Year Cocaine Use | 12+, 18-25, 26+ |
| Past Year Nonmedical Use of Pain Relievers | 26+ |
| Past Month Alcohol Use | 12+,26+ |
| Least Perception of Risk Associated with Having Five or More
Drinks of an Alcoholic Beverage Once or Twice a Week | 12-17 |
Abuse and Dependance
Questions in NSDUH are used to classify
persons as being dependent on or abusing
specific substances based on criteria specified in
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) (American
Psychiatric Association, 1994).
On the global measure of any past year
dependence on or abuse of illicit drugs or alcohol,
rates in Colorado have generally been higher than
the national rate. In 2005–2006, the rates were
among the 10 highest in the country for all age
groups. Viewed separately, however, there are
differences between age groups for alcohol and illicit drugs.
Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities
According to the 2006 National Survey of
Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS)
annual survey,3 the number of treatment facilities
in Colorado was 443. The majority of these
facilities (245 of 443, or 55%) were private forprofit,
and 165 (37%) were private nonprofit.
Since 2002, the number of treatment facilities in
Colorado has increased from 389 to 443. The
majority of this increase is accounted for by an
additional 45 private for-profit facilities.
Although facilities may offer more than one
modality of care, 417 facilities (94%) in 2006
offered some form of outpatient treatment. An
additional 68 facilities offered some form of
residential care, and 11 facilities offered an opioid
treatment program. Additionally, 104 physicians
and 18 treatment programs offered buprenorphine
treatment for opium addiction
In 2006, 39 percent of all facilities (172) received
some form of Federal, State, county, or local
government funds, and 72 facilities had agreements
or contracts with managed care organizations for the
provision of substance abuse treatment services.
Treatment
State treatment data for substance use disorders
are derived from two primary sources—an annual
1-day census in N-SSATS and annual treatment
admissions from the Treatment Episode Data
Set (TEDS).4 In the 2006 N-SSATS survey,
Colorado showed a 1-day total of 33,264 clients
in treatment, the majority of whom (31,591 or
95%) were in outpatient treatment. Of the total
number of clients in treatment on this date, 2,717
(8%) were under the age of 18.
Chart 3 shows the percent of admissions
mentioning particular drugs or alcohol at the time
of admission.5 Across the last 15 years, the percent
of admissions mentioning alcohol, cocaine,
or marijuana has remained relatively constant.
Methamphetamine admissions, however, have
increased from 2 percent in 1992, to 11 percent in
2006.
Across the years for which TEDS data are
available, Colorado has seen little change in the
constellation of problems present at treatment
admission. Alcohol-only admissions have
declined from 69 percent of all admissions in
1992, to 63 percent in 2006. Concomitantly,
drug-only admissions have increased from 7
percent in 1992, to 16 percent in 2006
Chart 4).
Unmet Need For Treatment
NSDUH defines unmet treatment need as an
individual who meets the criteria for abuse of or
dependence on illicit drugs or alcohol according
to the DSM-IV, but who has not received specialty
treatment for that problem in the past year.
Rates of unmet need for alcohol treatment have
generally been above the national rates for all
age groups and across all survey years. This is
particularly true for individuals age 26 and older
(Chart 5).
Similarly, rates of unmet need for drug treatment
have generally been above the national average,
particularly for those age 18 to 25 (Chart 6).
