Approximately 13% of youth ages 8 to 15 experience severe mental disorders in a given year; a rate that increases to 20% for youth ages 13 to 18. Rates increase to over 50% when mild and moderate mental disorders are also included. In Colorado and across the nation, uncoordinated care is consistently cited by consumers, families, practitioners and other stakeholders as being a primary barrier to quality and cost effective care. The COACT project also...

If you don't know where to begin getting mental health, substance use or emotional help for yourself or someone you know--start here. We provide confidential and immediate support, 24/7/365. If you are in crisis or need help dealing with one, call this toll-free number 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 to speak to a trained professional.

For the purposes of this report, "controlled substances" only refers to: methadone, bupreorphine, larazepam, etc. in licensed addiction programs that compound, administer or dispense controlled substances to treat substance abuse and addiction.

Access and availability to behavioral health crisis services continues to be a gap in Colorado's behavioral health system. The goals of crisis services are to improve access to the most appropriate treatment resources and to decrease the utilization of hospital emergency departments, jails, prisons, and homeless programs for behavioral health emergencies.

In 2011 Colorado received a one-year system of care expansion planning grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop a blueprint for expanding the approach statewide. The system of care model is a noncategorical approach to improving and integrating services and supports for children and youth with serious behavioral health challenges and their families. Colorado will focus on children with serious behavioral...

People talking about how they got addicted to opiates and what life was like as an addict.