Colorado Drug and Alcohol Statistics - Methadone dot org (NAMA Recovery)

Statistical Data on Drugs in Colorado

Colorado faces significant challenges with substance abuse, particularly after the legalization of marijuana in 2014. The state shows higher than national average rates in several categories of substance use, with concerning trends in both youth and adult populations. The data reveals a complex landscape of drug use patterns, treatment accessibility, and overdose rates that have evolved significantly over the past decade.

Drug Overdose Trends

1,881 Coloradans killed by drug overdoses in 2021

Death rate evolution:

2002: 9.7 per 100,000 residents
2014: 16.3 per 100,000 residents
2021: 31.7 per 100,000 residents

More people died from drug overdoses than car accidents in recent years

The death rate has more than tripled over two decades, showing an alarming acceleration particularly after 2014. The fact that drug overdoses exceed car accident deaths highlights the severity of this public health crisis.

Overall Population Statistics (2017-2019)

Total substance use disorder cases: 558,000 people (11.7% of population)
Illicit drug use disorder: 259,000 people (5.4% of population)
Past-year marijuana use: 1.3 million people (27.5% of population)
Prescription drug misuse: 221,000 people (4.6% of population)

Over a quarter of Colorado’s population uses marijuana, and more than one in ten residents has a substance use disorder, indicating widespread substance use issues throughout the state.

Detailed Substance Analysis

Marijuana Statistics

Distribution and Use

Retail stores: 509 (as of 2018)

County distribution (shops per 100,000 residents):

Costilla: 118.6 (4 shops)
Gunnison: 110.3 (11 shops)
Pitkin: 107.2 (16 shops)
Routt: 66.4 (4 shops)
La Plata: 37.0 (12 shops)

Usage by Age Group

Age Group	Usage Rate	Additional Context
Youth (12-17)	8.5%	Similar to national average (6.8%)
Young Adults (18-25)	51.2%	Significantly higher than national average (35.0%)
Overall Population	27.5%	Higher than national average (16.2%)

The distribution of marijuana shops shows high concentration in certain counties, while usage rates reveal particularly concerning patterns among young adults, where over half report use – significantly above national averages.

Post-Legalization Impact

Car accidents: One marijuana-related death every two days

Increase in related issues since legalization:

USPS illegal package seizures: +387%
Organized crime charges: +287%
Poison control center calls: +395%
Marijuana-related car accidents: +150%

Legalization has led to unexpected negative consequences across multiple areas, with particularly dramatic increases in illegal trafficking and safety concerns.

Opioid Statistics

2021 Statistics

Total opioid deaths: 1,289
Percentage of all drug deaths: 68%
Death rate: 21.7 per 100,000

Contributing Factors

Prescription opioids: 47.5% of deaths
Heroin: 41.3% of deaths
Synthetic opioids: 23.8% of deaths

Health Impacts

Hepatitis C cases from IV drug use: 36,800
HIV/AIDS cases from IV drug use: 12,352

The opioid crisis represents the deadliest substance abuse challenge in Colorado, with opioids responsible for over two-thirds of all drug deaths. The high percentage of prescription opioid involvement suggests a continuing need for stricter prescribing controls and better monitoring systems.

Cocaine Use (2019-2020)

Age Group	Usage Rate
Adults (26+)	2.18%
Young Adults (18-25)	7.48%
Teens (12-17)	0.38%

Cocaine use shows a clear age-related pattern, peaking in young adulthood and dropping significantly after age 26, suggesting this age group needs targeted intervention strategies.

Youth Substance Use Patterns

Teen Substance Use

11.45% of 12-17 year olds report using drugs in last month, among them:

84% report using marijuana
0.69% report using cocaine
0.23% report using methamphetamines
2.06% report misusing pain relievers

37.40% more likely to use drugs than average American teen

Young Adult Statistics (18-25 years)

Substance use patterns:

Marijuana use: 51.2% (301,000 young adults)
Marijuana use disorder: 10.2% (60,000 young adults)
Opioid use disorder: 1.7% (10,000 young adults)
Overall substance use disorder: 23.5% (138,000 young adults)

Youth substance use shows alarming trends, with Colorado teens 37.4% more likely to use drugs than the national average. The transition to young adulthood shows a dramatic increase in usage rates, particularly with marijuana, suggesting a need for targeted intervention during this critical period.

Treatment Statistics

Treatment Facilities and Capacity

Active rehabilitation centers: 460

Annual patients served: 52,388

Treatment breakdown:

Drug problem only: 34.5%
Alcohol problem only: 30.7%
Both drug and alcohol: 34.9%

Medication-assisted therapy (2019):

Methadone treatment: 5,014 people
Buprenorphine treatment: 1,672 people

The treatment facility distribution suggests a significant gap between those needing treatment and available resources, with only 460 centers serving over half a million people with substance use disorders.

Treatment Access Barriers (2021-2023)

Barrier	Percentage
Uncomfortable talking to health professional	66.5%
Cost concerns	56.8%
Privacy concerns	51.1%
Insurance coverage concerns	43.7%
Appointment availability	32.7%

The treatment system shows significant gaps between need and availability, with stigma and cost being the primary barriers to access. The high percentage of people uncomfortable talking to professionals suggests a need for stigma reduction efforts.

Treatment Cost Structure

Outpatient services:

Average cost per person: $1,705
Annual enrollment: 51,216 patients
Total public spending: $87.32 million (3.78% of U.S. total)

Residential treatment:

Average cost per person: $56,413
Annual enrollment: 1,012 patients
Total public spending: $57.09 million (1.1% of U.S. total)

The dramatic cost difference between outpatient and residential treatment creates a significant barrier to intensive care, forcing many to choose less comprehensive outpatient services regardless of their needs.

Rural vs Urban Disparities

31 counties have no treatment providers
15 counties have only one treatment provider
Rural residents show higher privacy concerns (69.5% vs 48.5% urban)
Rural areas report higher discomfort with seeking treatment (72.3% vs 65.8% urban)

Rural areas face particularly severe challenges in treatment access, with both physical access barriers and higher levels of stigma than urban areas.

Treatment Outcomes and Funding

State Investment

Budget allocation: 15% of state budget for addiction (where prevention takes 3% and treatment takes 97%)
Additional funding: $4 million through Long Appropriations Act
Marijuana tax revenue (2016): $200 million
Total marijuana sales (2016): $1.5 billion

Colorado Treatment Investment

While marijuana legalization has generated significant tax revenue, the allocation of resources heavily favors treatment over prevention (97% vs 3%). This imbalance might contribute to higher substance use rates, as prevention programs remain underfunded despite their potential to reduce future treatment needs.

Crime and Poverty Correlation

Violent crime rates (per 1,000 people):

Pueblo: 9.8 (highest in state)
Denver: 6.6
State average: 4.4

Poverty impact:

Crowley County: 23.5% of households in poverty
State average: 11% of households in poverty

The strong correlation between high crime rates, poverty, and substance abuse suggests the need for comprehensive social service approaches rather than isolated treatment programs.

This comprehensive data shows Colorado faces unique challenges in substance abuse and treatment, with particularly concerning trends in youth usage and treatment accessibility. The state’s progressive marijuana laws appear to correlate with higher usage rates, while treatment barriers remain significant, especially in rural areas.

Statistical Data on Alcohol in Colorado

Colorado faces significant challenges with alcohol abuse, ranking as the 16th biggest drinking state in the nation. The state shows concerning trends in both adult and youth consumption, with rates generally exceeding national averages and death rates reaching alarming levels as the sixth highest in the nation.

Death and Health Impact

Annual deaths from excessive alcohol use: 2,623

Death rate: 26.5 per 100,000 people (6th highest nationally)

Demographics of alcohol-related deaths:

Male: 67.7%
Adults 35+ years: 83.1%
Under 21: 7.5%

Healthcare impact:

Hospitalizations: 34,116 (562 per 100,000 persons)
Emergency Department visits: 67,268 (1,143 per 100,000 persons)

Years of potential life lost annually: 71,300

The health impact is severe, with a particularly high burden on males and older adults. The surge in death rates (60% increase between 2018-2021) indicates a worsening crisis.

Overall Consumption Statistics

Annual drinks per resident: 645 (national average: 536)
Adults not drinking in past 30 days: 38% (national: 47%)
Binge drinking rate: 19.8% of adults
Liquor stores: 1,623 (28.7 per 100,000 residents)
Liquor licenses: Increased from 14,000 (2017) to 16,000 (2021)

Colorado residents consume significantly more alcohol than the national average, with fewer abstaining adults and more widespread availability through increasing numbers of licensed vendors.

Age-Specific Consumption Patterns

Youth (Ages 12-20)

Age Group	Past-Month Use	Binge Drinking
12-14	3.1% (7,000)	1.1% (2,000)
15-17	17.0% (36,000)	11.0% (23,000)
18-20	45.1% (97,000)	26.7% (57,000)
Total	21.8% (140,000)	12.9% (83,000)

Young Adults (18-25)

Binge drinking rate: 41.3% (243,000 people)
Alcohol use disorder: 14.6% (86,000 people)

A clear progression in alcohol use is evident with age, with particularly concerning rates among 18-20 year olds despite being under legal drinking age.

Youth Access and Attitudes

Ease of access: 59% report alcohol would be “sort of easy” or “very easy” to get
Early initiation: 17.6% had first drink before age 13
Source of alcohol: 40% received it from someone else

Student perceptions:

85% overestimate peer drinking rates
82% believe parents would disapprove of regular drinking
70% perceive moderate/great risk in regular drinking
62% believe it’s wrong for their age group to drink regularly

Despite high awareness of risks and parental disapproval, youth report easy access to alcohol, with social sources being a significant factor.

Binge Drinking Patterns

Median drinks per binge: 5.6

Top 25% most active drinkers:

Drinks per binge: 7.6
Frequency: 3.7 times monthly

Gender distribution:

Men: 25%
Women: 14%

Highest rate: Ages 25-34 (nearly one-third report binge drinking)

Binge drinking shows significant gender disparity and is particularly prevalent among young adults, with some heavy users showing very intense patterns of consumption.

Treatment Access

100,000 adults (2.2%) report not receiving needed treatment

Annual treatment admissions (2010):

Total alcohol and drug problems: 16,471
Alcohol-only treatment: 15,473
Number of treatment centers: 385

Despite the high prevalence of alcohol use disorders, there appears to be a significant treatment gap, with many individuals not receiving needed care.

Public Safety Impact

Economic impact: $6.826 billion in 2022 ($2.89 per drink)

DUI arrests: 10.6% of all adult arrests (2019)
DUI testing: 95.6% of tested drivers positive for alcohol or alcohol with other substances
21.4% of serious injuries and fatalities in traffic incidents involved alcohol/drugs
24% of fatal crashes involved drivers 15-20 years old with BAC > 0.01%

The public safety impact is substantial, with alcohol playing a significant role in traffic incidents and law enforcement activity, resulting in major economic costs to the state.

Colorado’s alcohol statistics reveal a critical public health challenge, with consumption rates and alcohol-related deaths significantly exceeding national averages. The combination of high youth initiation rates, widespread binge drinking among young adults, and limited treatment accessibility suggests an urgent need for enhanced prevention and treatment strategies.

In general, Colorado faces severe dual challenges with both drug and alcohol abuse, evidenced by death rates significantly above national averages (31.7 per 100,000 for drugs and 26.5 per 100,000 for alcohol). The post-2014 marijuana legalization period has seen dramatic increases in substance-related incidents, while alcohol consumption remains 20% above national averages. With young adult populations showing particularly high usage rates, combined with significant treatment barriers and rural access issues, the state faces an urgent need for balanced intervention strategies that address both prevention and treatment across all substances.