Opioid, Fentanyl and Heroin Rehab Centers in Colorado

How do I start methadone or buprenorphine treatment in Colorado?

You can start methadone only at a certified opioid treatment program, while buprenorphine can be started at one of those programs or with an office-based or telehealth prescriber. Federal rules at 42 CFR Part 8 limit methadone for opioid use disorder to certified programs, and the Behavioral Health Administration oversees them under 2 CCR 502-1. The Colorado listings for methadone clinics show where these programs report operating.

Buprenorphine prescribing opened up when the federal X-waiver ended. Any clinician whose DEA registration covers Schedule III drugs can now prescribe it, so a primary care office is one route and the Colorado listings for Suboxone clinics are another. Starting buprenorphine over video falls under federal DEA telemedicine rules, which have changed several times. No separate Colorado rule on telehealth starts was found, so ask the prescriber how they handle a first visit.

Extended-release naltrexone, a monthly injection, can begin only after opioid withdrawal is finished. With fentanyl now common in the drug supply, clinicians report that buprenorphine starts can take more planning. That is one reason people choose medically managed detox in Colorado or a supervised start over going it alone. Withdrawal care on its own is a first step, not the whole of treatment.

What kinds of opioid treatment programs are available in Colorado?

Colorado’s opioid listings include opioid treatment programs, office-based buprenorphine, withdrawal management, residential care, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, standard outpatient and telehealth.

Mapped locations show how closely Colorado’s opioid programs follow the Front Range waterways. Seventy percent sit within 25 miles of a river, most often the North Fork South Platte River. The nearest airport is a median of 14 miles away, most often Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, and about four in five programs are within 30 miles of an airport.

Does Health First Colorado pay for opioid treatment medications?

Health First Colorado, the state’s Medicaid program, covers opioid use disorder treatment through its behavioral health benefit, and your regional plan can confirm how each medication is handled. Under ACC Phase III, starting July 1, 2025, Regional Accountable Entities run that benefit. They are Rocky Mountain Health Plans, including RMHP Prime, in Region 1; Northeast Health Partners in Region 2; Colorado Community Health Alliance in Region 3; and Colorado Access in Region 4. Elevate Medicaid Choice through Denver Health is a separate managed care plan. More on Medicaid coverage is on the Medicaid insurance page.

Medicare Part B has covered services at opioid treatment programs since 2020, including medication and counseling. The Colorado listings for Medicare rehab show which programs report accepting it.

Colorado residents without insurance have public options too. The Behavioral Health Administration manages federal block grant funds and federal opioid response grants that have paid for medication treatment, naloxone and recovery support. The Colorado Opioid Abatement Council directs opioid settlement money through 19 regional councils. The Colorado listings for state-funded rehab are a starting point, alongside the payment types each listing shows.

Where can I get naloxone in Colorado?

You can buy naloxone nasal spray without a prescription, and Colorado health department standing orders let agencies give it to anyone who might experience or witness an overdose. Since 2019, the state’s Naloxone Bulk Purchase Fund has supplied free naloxone to eligible organizations. Local public health agencies, harm reduction programs and some treatment providers may hand it out at no cost.

Opioid tolerance drops after withdrawal, a residential stay, time in jail or any stretch without use. Taking a previously usual amount after that can lead to overdose, and fentanyl in the drug supply raises the risk further. Keep naloxone nearby and call 911 if someone is unresponsive. Colorado’s Good Samaritan law, C.R.S. 18-1-711, passed in 2012, offers immunity within its terms to people who report an overdose emergency.

Do residential programs in Colorado accept people taking methadone or buprenorphine?

Some Colorado residential programs accept people taking methadone or buprenorphine, but policies differ, so ask the admissions team before you arrive.

Pregnancy and opioid treatment

Federal block grant rules give pregnant people priority admission at funded programs, and many opioid treatment programs follow the same practice. Colorado law, C.R.S. 27-80-112, sets up a treatment program for high-risk pregnant women. Health First Colorado’s Special Connections program offers free outpatient or women-only residential treatment to members who are pregnant or up to one year postpartum. The Colorado listings for rehab for pregnant women show programs that report serving this group.

Reading the Colorado listings

Each Colorado listing shows the accreditation, languages, populations served and location a provider reports. Our details come from public treatment registers, state licensing files, accreditation body listings and information sent in by the providers. Other programs are on the Colorado rehab page, and general background is on the opioid addiction page.