Denver Dual Diagnosis Clinic Requires No Prior Addiction Diagnosis

AspenRidge Recovery opened a new option for dual diagnosis care in Denver this month. It’s one of hundreds of facilities in Colorado, but their admission policy sets it apart. 

The Lowry neighborhood center treats depression and addiction with mental health as the primary diagnosis. No addiction diagnosis is required to enroll.

The Denver Center’s Difference

Many behavioral treatment centers with addiction in their name require a substance use diagnosis before they admit a patient. AspenRidge’s Lowry location treats both sides of the picture. 

People with depression, anxiety disorders and other mental health issues can enroll even if they’ve never had a substance use problem. Patients with mental health conditions and substance use disorders simultaneously.

The center operates various levels of outpatient therapy. Psychiatric and medical providers team up with therapists, case managers and peer specialists. Same-day assessments take place and most folks begin treatment within 48 hours.

“I am fortunate to be in recovery myself, because I got help when I needed it,” announced Michael Damioli, AspenRidge’s CMO. 

Colorado’s Shrinking Mental Health System

The opening coincides with documented contraction in the state’s behavioral health capacity. The Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council found that 77% of its member organizations operated at break-even or a loss, and 62% had cut services or froze hiring. Nearly 25% of insured Coloradans don’t get mental health care because it costs too much.

People call the center every week even if they never had a substance problem, Damioli noted. Other programs that only deal with addictions have to turn them away. But this model of dual diagnosis care intends to close that gap.

The center accepts Colorado Medicaid along with most other commercial plans. AspenRidge offers sliding-scale self-pay for people without coverage. That combo matters because too many people opt to simply skip care.

Understanding Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnoses describe mental health conditions and substance use disorders occurring in the same person. The two conditions travel together more often than either treatment system admits, and treating one while ignoring the other leads to worse outcomes. 

Integrated dual diagnosis treatment addresses both at once rather than in isolation. An admission model that accepts both kinds of patients removes the possibility of folks bouncing between various mental health and addiction providers.

Dual Diagnosis Care in Denver & Beyond

Anyone looking for mental health treatment facilities that handle both psychiatric conditions and addiction, search our online treatment centers directory. You can compare programs offering dual diagnosis care anywhere in the country by level of care, specialty, and insurance accepted, and find a program that fits.

Also, dial 800-908-4823 (Sponsored) to speak with an expert and explore local options.

Author

Quentin Blount

Content Manager

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Quentin brings nearly a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and digital publisher to his role as Content Manager for Rehab.com. He aims to help people better understand their treatment options by creating engaging and informative content that is user-friendly, factually accurate, and optimized for search engine visibility. In his free time, Quentin enjoys the company of his friends, family, and his dog, Coop.

Editor

Peter Lee, PhD

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Peter W.Y. Lee is a writer and historian of American history during the Cold War. His primary focus is the relationship between youth and popular culture and its impact on U.S. society during the twentieth century. He has published widely on how the public has used popular culture as a mechanism to address political and social shifts throughout time