ADHD and Addiction Treatment in Denver, CO
Integrated treatment for co-occurring ADHD and substance use disorder in Denver and Lakewood, Colorado. Experienced, evidence-based care that addresses both conditions together.
Why ADHD and Addiction So Frequently Co-Occur
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder significantly increases the risk of developing a substance use disorder. Research consistently finds that people with ADHD are two to three times more likely to develop substance use problems than the general population. ADHD involves impulsivity, difficulty regulating emotions, a tendency toward risk-taking, and a chronic experience of underachievement and frustration that creates real psychological vulnerability.
Self-medication is not a character flaw. It is a rational response to a brain that is generating a particular kind of suffering, and it is one that many people with undiagnosed or undertreated ADHD discover on their own. The challenge is that self-medication with substances worsens ADHD over time, impairs the very executive functions that are already compromised, and creates a substance use disorder that sits on top of the ADHD.
At Denver Recovery in Denver and Lakewood, we treat both conditions together with clinical expertise in this specific co-occurring presentation.
Our Approach to ADHD and Addiction Treatment
Accurate Diagnosis in the Context of Substance Use
ADHD can be difficult to assess accurately in the context of active or recent substance use, because the cognitive effects of substances can mimic or obscure ADHD symptoms. Denver Recovery's clinical team is experienced in evaluating ADHD in this context, gathering longitudinal history and using validated assessment tools.
ADHD-Adapted Therapeutic Approaches
Standard therapeutic approaches are adapted for clients with ADHD to account for the specific cognitive profile the condition involves. Sessions are structured to work with rather than against attention limitations. CBT adapted for ADHD helps clients understand their own patterns, develop organizational and self-regulation strategies, and address the negative self-beliefs that often accompany a lifetime of ADHD-related struggles.
Learn moreMedication Management for ADHD in Recovery
Medication management for ADHD in the context of addiction recovery requires careful clinical consideration. Non-stimulant ADHD medications such as atomoxetine and guanfacine may be considered as alternatives to stimulants. Denver Recovery's psychiatric providers evaluate each client's ADHD medication needs individually, with full awareness of the substance use history and recovery context.
Building Structure and Routine
External structure is particularly important for people with ADHD, especially in early recovery when internal self-regulation is most challenged. Denver Recovery's structured treatment programs provide the external scaffolding that supports engagement and progress.
Addressing Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is one of the less-recognized but highly significant features of ADHD, involving intense emotional reactions and rapid mood shifts. DBT's emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills are particularly well-suited to this aspect of ADHD.
Learn moreServing Denver, Lakewood, and the Greater Colorado Region
Denver Recovery provides ADHD and addiction treatment at our Denver and Lakewood locations, serving individuals from Denver, Lakewood, Aurora, Golden, Jefferson County, and across the Colorado region. Our admissions team is happy to help you find the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions: ADHD and Addiction Treatment
How does ADHD increase addiction risk?
ADHD increases addiction risk through impulsivity that reduces the ability to evaluate consequences, emotional dysregulation that creates ongoing psychological distress substances can temporarily relieve, and the accumulated frustration of living with unrecognized or undertreated ADHD. Stimulants in particular can produce a paradoxical calming and focusing effect for people with ADHD, which becomes powerfully reinforcing.
Is ADHD treated during rehab?
Yes. At Denver Recovery, ADHD is treated as part of the integrated care plan. ADHD-adapted therapy, structured treatment programming, emotional regulation skills training, and psychiatric evaluation for medication management are all available for clients with co-occurring ADHD and addiction.
What therapies help manage ADHD in recovery?
CBT adapted for ADHD is one of the most effective therapeutic approaches, helping clients develop practical self-regulation strategies and understand their own cognitive patterns. DBT's emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills address the emotional dysregulation dimension of ADHD.
Is medication management included in treatment?
Yes. Denver Recovery's psychiatric team evaluates each client's ADHD medication needs as part of the integrated care plan. This involves careful clinical consideration of the options available, with full awareness of the substance use history and recovery process.
Next step
Finally Getting the Right Help
Many people with ADHD reach addiction treatment having spent years feeling like something was wrong with them without being able to name it. Denver Recovery's integrated program in Denver and Lakewood can help you understand your own brain, address the addiction that developed around it, and build a recovery that works for who you actually are.