After 42 years of non-profit service to the metro Denver community, Denver’s largest substance abuse treatment center is closing. Arapahoe House will close on January 2, 2018 due to the inability to financially sustain the cost of delivering their life-changing programs. Everyone in the mental health community in Denver knows this is a sad day for our county.
Since 1975, Arapahoe House has served as a safety-net provider of substance use disorder treatment for Coloradans. Unfortunately, the cost to care for these patients is greater than the funding provided by state and federal sources including Medicaid. This will affect some 5,000 patients in the Denver area annually.
According to CEO, Mike Butler, here is the timeline:
- On December 15, 2017 at 5 p.m., new patient admissions will stop.
- Arapahoe House will close on January 2, 2018.
- Treatment for current patients in both residential and outpatient settings will conclude by Jan. 2, 2018 and most staff will be laid off then.
- Arapahoe House already is working with the treatment community to ensure as smooth a transition as possible. Every effort will be made to place current patients with other providers.
- In order to continue to help community members seeking treatment and provide information about substance use disorders, Arapahoe House’s call center (303-657-3700) will remain open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, through Jan. 2. We have increased the call center’s capacity in anticipation of more calls.
Many of us are still scrambling to find alternative resources for our clients. If you need support, here is a link to many low cost and free substance abuse treatment centers.
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