Colorado Continues to Struggle with Methamphetamine Use and Its Effects

On November 19, federal authorities announced the indictment of 15 people linked to the largest methamphetamine seizure in Colorado history. In a series of law enforcement operations, More than 1,000 pounds of the stimulant were seized from a Denver-based criminal organization that extended into Adams County, Lakewood, and Arvada, according to Colorado Public Radio. In addition to methamphetamine, authorities recovered 22 firearms, cocaine, and fentanyl during these raids. This enforcement action comes just days after the state’s largest fentanyl seizure, where more than 198 kilograms of fentanyl were recovered from an abandoned storage locker in Denver’s Highland Ranch neighborhood.

According to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), psychostimulant involved overdoses, which can result from the use of drugs like methamphetamine, remain a significant and rising component of drug related deaths in Colorado. There has been a sharp rise in stimulant-related fatalities from 2018 to 2023. Despite taking huge quantities of meth and other drugs off the streets, these raids are unlikely to impact the prevalent use of these substances significantly.

While drug seizures may temporarily disrupt local supply chains, they can lead to other dangerous consequences. Illicit drug dealers cut off from their normal supply of meth may cut (adulterate) the drug with other inexpensive and dangerous substances, like fentanyl, to make their remaining supply go farther. An adulterated drug supply makes it harder for people using these substances to know what they are consuming, which can lead to accidental overdoses and deaths. In addition to highlighting the enormous scale of illegal drugs flowing through Colorado, these seizures also illuminate the sophisticated criminal activity needed to facilitate this flow.

Methamphetamine use disorder is a life-threatening illness that causes serious medical and social problems. Long-term meth use can lead to severe mental illnesses, including psychosis, memory loss, depression, paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations. Prolonged methamphetamine use also poses numerous physical health problems, including heart problems, dental disease, skin abscesses, liver and kidney disease, and neuromuscular issues, like twitching and tremors. This is a damaging drug, and people who are addicted to it require comprehensive treatment to address its medical, psychological, and social effects.

Our Foundry Steamboat, Foundry Front Range, and Foundry Outpatient treatment programs regularly help people experiencing methamphetamine use disorder. People who use meth face numerous daunting challenges, and our programming provides a range of services that help people safely stop using meth and address the physical and emotional pain and distress caused by living with this condition. Addressing trauma, which is common among people who have a history of methamphetamine use, is a significant focus of our program. Our Trauma-Integrated Care model uses specialized training and techniques to help clients feel safe and supported, which is vital to identifying and successfully treating unresolved trauma. Our clinicians are versed in numerous trauma therapies, including EMDR and somatic experiencing. They also help clients regain the ability to naturally regulate emotional response, which is a crucial skill for countering the intense anxiety and emotional upset that often result from using methamphetamine. Our programming also includes an array of education, psychotherapies, family work, and continuing care planning that contribute to high-quality treatment outcomes.

Even though stimulant use remains stubbornly high and extremely dangerous, treatment is effective. Comprehensive care delivered by experienced professionals can help people find recovery and develop the recovery-supportive lifestyles that lead to better health and well-being. If you or someone you know needs help, please contact us to learn more about our residential and outpatient treatment options. All NRT Behavioral Health programs accept most Medicaid plans and are in-network with most major insurances.

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