Aspen, Colorado, Alcohol and Drug Addiction Information
Aspen, Colorado has a population of 5,914 with an average household size of 1.941 and is located in Pitkin County.
Aspen is a Colorado ski resort world-renowned for its downhill skiing. It’s located in the upper end of Roaring Fork Valley in the Elk Mountains branch of the Rockies with the Roaring Fork River running through town providing some incredible trout fishing.
Besides tons of outdoor activities, Aspen is home to the Wheeler Opera House, trendy smaller stores, a concert hall, and Aspen plays host to a number of festivals throughout the year.
Aspen Colorado’s Drug Source
Marijuana
The DEA (The US Drug Enforcement Administration)2 reports that marijuana is available throughout Colorado and is the most widely abused drug in the state.
Crack
Enforcement activities reflect a steady supply of cocaine coming into and through Colorado. Cocaine trafficking organizations with sources of supply in Mexico or along the Southwest Border often deal in multi-kilogram amounts. Crack is available in the larger metropolitan areas of Colorado, generally in street level amounts.
Mexican black tar heroin
Mexican black tar heroin is the predominant type of heroin found in Colorado and is available in the major metropolitan areas of Colorado. Various law enforcement and treatment indicators suggest that heroin availability and use may be on the rise in Colorado.
Methamphetamine
Most of the methamphetamine available in Colorado originates in Mexico. In recent years, the potency of methamphetamine produced in Mexico has risen to levels comparable to that made in smaller, local clandestine laboratories. While clandestine laboratories remain problematic to law enforcement in Colorado, the number of such laboratories has diminished dramatically. This is possibly due to the increasing supply of Mexican-produced methamphetamine. Despite a lower number of clandestine laboratories, these operations still represent a threat to the public safety and the environment.
MDMA3, LSD, Ketamine, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB4)
The category of substances known as “club drugs” is most often associated with nightclubs and private parties. DEA investigations indicate that violence, pornography, and prostitution often play key roles in club drug trafficking and abuse. MDMA3 generally is distributed by independent traffickers or loosely-knit organizations with both domestic and foreign sources of supply. Asian gangs play a significant role in club drug distribution. LSD, Ketamine, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB4) are also distributed and used in the nightclub scene.
Contin®, Darvon® and Darvocet®
Current investigations indicate that diversion of hydrocodone products such as Vicodin®, and oxycodone products (such as brand name and generic OxyContin®) continues to be a problem in Colorado. Primary methods of diversion being reported are forged prescriptions, employee theft, and the Internet. Benzodiazepines (such as Xanax® and Valium®), methadone, MS Contin®, Darvon® and Darvocet® were also identified as being among the most commonly abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in Colorado.
The Dwindling Spiral Will Continue
One thing is for certain, for a drug addict, the dwindling spiral will continue on its downward path unless action is taken. NOW is the time to do something before the addicted person winds up in jail or dead of an overdose or accident. Unfortunately past failed attempts to overcome addiction only further depress the individual so it comes as no surprise that fear and hesitation.
In the city of Aspen, there is an increased need for effective drug and alcohol rehab and addiction treatment centers as drug and alcohol use continues to escalate. Drug use erodes the quality of life not only for the user, but for their families and communities. Marriages and families are torn apart by mistrust, betrayal, fear and anger. Careers are ruined; companies lose millions of dollars in lost production time; cities and suburbs become degraded by the increased crime and violence that goes with drug trafficking and drug addiction. To do nothing for the addict, should not be an option. Something can be done; help is available.
Aspen area Drug Related Arrests
December 10, 2008, The Aspen Times ran a story on Aspen schools earning high marks; however, the story included drug abuse information on students: (excerpt) For example, Basalt students were slightly more likely to get in a fight last year: Basalt High saw seven fights, and Basalt Middle had three. By contrast, there were two incidents of fighting at Aspen High and none at Aspen Middle School.
However, students were slightly more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs in Aspen: Aspen High had nine incidents of alcohol or drug abuse, and Basalt High had six. (full news story)
December 13, 2008, The Aspen Times ran this story online: “Alleged Aspen Heroin Dealer to Go to Trial.” A judge found Friday there was probable cause to try Nelson Raul-Gamez on multiple felony counts in connection with a heroin distribution network that reached into Aspen, and spawned several arrests.
Raul-G., also known as Franklin G. B., stands accused of nine felonies that range from conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
(full news story)
The Damage to Society
In the State of Colorado, and specifically in the city of Aspen, the effects of drug and alcohol abuse goes way past the the damage done to the addicts themselves. In terms of time lost on the job, to the health system inundated by illness and overdoses to communities harmed by the crime rate caused by addicts looking to steal anything in order to get their next fix, to families living a nightmare as they watch helplessly as their loved one goes further down the chutes. The rollercoaster of emotions, concern and anger seems like a never ending ride the abuser puts his friends and family through. Failures in the past with drug rehab centers further numb the addict to any hope of a future without drugs. It truly can appear hopeless.
Treatment Center Changes Needed
Just in the state of Colorado, there are many different types of drug rehab and treatment facilities. In the United States, there are thousands of drug rehab and treatment centers. Of course the common goal of all addiction treatment programs is to help end addiction for the individual. In Colorado and across the United States, a variety of techniques and methods are being used. Some of the well known treatment methods in Colorado include the twelve step method, relapse prevention, one-on-one counseling, drug rehabilitation, behavioral modification, cognitive therapy, support groups, sober living, therapeutic communities, AA , NA, inpatient, and outpatient drug rehab programs. There are many types of treatment centers available in Colorado, so making a decision can be difficult. Unfortunately, many uninformed people in Colorado go from rehab to rehab looking for the one that is right for them.
In Colorado, there are many attempts being made to meet the needs of drug addicts, but statistics show success rates to be dismally low. What is needed and wanted is a drug treatment which not only handles physical addiction, but finds the underlying reasons why a person turns to drugs in order to free the person forever. What Colorado addicts, alcoholics and their family, friends and loved ones need is a real and effective drug rehab treatment center. One where they are not on a time schedule or use other drugs to get the addict off the original drugs. The addict needs a reliable proven program where when they are done, their drug addiction is a thing of the past and they are now able to live full productive lives free of the stronghold of drugs or alcohol.
Choosing a Drug Rehab and Addiction Treatment Program
What should the goal be of a drug rehab center? Clean and sober for 30 days? While that might be a good short term goal, many treatment centers and 12 step programs still leave the drug addict fighting a continuing battle with addiction. Once an addict always an addict; or it’s a mental disorder they can do nothing about. When choosing a drug rehab center for yourself or a loved one from Aspen, Colorado, it is important to become educated on the different types of drug rehab and what the end results are.
Should the Drug Rehab Location Matter When it Comes to Finding a Solution to Addiction?
Drug and alcohol addiction typically involves habitual routines in the environmental scope of the individual, i.e. the locations of their drug or alcohol use, the people they associated with in the activities of drug or alcohol use, etc. Drug or alcohol addiction is not just drug and alcohol use, it revolves around people and things in their immediate environment which help to trigger the addictive behavior. The abusers location & routines of drug and alcohol use further trigger drug and alcohol use. It is the constant and seemingly unstoppable drug or alcohol use and the hopelessness of day to day existence which perpetuates the problem and inhibits the native desire to stop ruining their life through the use of drugs and alcohol.
The above factor should not be over looked when considering a treatment center location. The first 2 weeks of treatment are always the most difficult & There many factors at work to make this so. In addition to what has been covered above, a more basic factor is this; people are creatures of habit. Even overwhelmingly positive & beneficial changes in life, such as the birth of a child or a new job does not guarantee the individual will have no thoughts of missing past negative activities such as, drug or alcohol use, drug or drinking acquaintances and other associated activities. Factually this is the normal reactive auto response of most human beings; to do what they are familiar with; good or bad. It is not really that they yearn for these things, it is just all that they have known for some time. If the abuser is close to home when overwhelming feelings manifest themselves, there is a good chance he or she will leave and get back to what they know, drug addiction, as it is not very far away . Due to these factors, attending a drug rehab close to home is seldom the correct treatment option for chronic drug or alcohol abusers. It is extremely therapeutic to be distanced from their former association with drug dealers, bars, the cabinet where the alcohol was kept, the cigar box where the cocaine was stored, etc. All these triggers make the task of sobriety seem insurmountable to the chronic drug or alcohol abuser as these triggers continuously stimulate a reminder of their past addictive behaviors.
For individuals with a severe drug or alcohol addiction problem, choosing a long term inpatient treatment program is another key to a successful outcome.
By providing a new, safe trigger free environment, distanced from past negative associations and surroundings for an extended period of time, the chance for success increases dramatically.
Our program provides people with positive circumstances to increase their chances for a successful recovery. The vast majority of students entering our program, around (80%), are from out of state or from other countries.
Narconon Riverbend helps END addiction and alcoholism FOR GOOD.
Narconon Riverbend produces graduates who are DRUG FREE AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. Narconon Riverbend has a success rate in excess of 70%, as compared to 15-20% for more traditional treatments. Narconon Riverbend is a long-term treatment facility, something that is more and more vital in fully handling the onslaught of newer and more potent substances, including a dramatic increase in prescription drug abuse.
The Narconon program steps are entirely drug-free; that is, the Narconon drug rehab program does not use drugs or medications to solve the problems caused by drugs, but does use nutrition and nutritional supplements as an important component of its delivery. Thus the program is neither a psychiatric nor medical, but a social education model of rehabilitation.
A Narconon Program Graduate is someone:
- Who has completed the Narconon drug rehab program;
- Who knows he is, in fact, capable of living a drug-free life thereafter;
- Who has improved his or her ability to learn and thus can accept new ideas on how to change life for the better;
- Who has personally absorbed the fundamentals of ethics and morality well enough that he or she can be productive and contributive to society and will have no further troubles with the justice system;
- Who knows how to solve the problems of life in a rational manner to the best of his ability, without the use of mind-altering drugs.
Call now and request a copy of Healing Addicted Lives written by Gary W. Smith, Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor and Director of Narconon Arrowhead Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation and Education Center.
Call anytime to speak with one of our counselors about our program. We will take the time to answer your questions whether it be for yourself or a loved one. It is possible to replace the loss and pain of alcohol or drug addiction with a productive, enjoyable life.
Call now (877) 340-3602.
1 Aspen stats courtesy of http://www.maps-n-stats.com/ (Link to Data)
2 DEA Website facts for Colorado
3 MDMA: Ectasy (Full definition)
Drug Rehab by State