A new addiction treatment center, Momenta, recently opened in Glenwood Springs, CO., offering both outpatient and inpatient mental health and substance use disorder services.
Momenta clinician, Bailey Allison, says that economic troubles have contributed to rising addiction trends in the state. She added that a lack of psychiatrists and physicians available to provide treatment in rural communities such as Glenwood Springs has compounded the problem.
The Colorado Department of Health & Environment estimated that nearly 960 total drug poisoning deaths occurred in 2017. This number represents a 5-year high for the state.
Gov. John Hickenlooper recently passed a law to maintain the Substance Abuse Trend and Response Task Force in Colorado. In October of 2017, the task force instigated a subcommittee that focused on protecting and supporting children whose parents or caregivers have substance use disorders.
Many mothers with substance use disorders fear losing custody of their children, says the founder of Momenta, Mandy Owensby. She added that many of them may not seek help until their substance abuse becomes severe.
Owensby, a mother of two, has had her own struggles with addiction and recovery for nearly six years. After her difficulties finding programs that would accept her with her children, she wanted to create a program that specifically serviced both women and mothers.
Prior to opening the addiction treatment center, she worked in human services. During that time she noticed that there was a lack of local treatment resources for patients, who instead had to be referred to programs out of state.
Momenta staff utilize a holistic approach to recovery, not only focusing on mother-child relationships, but on the entire family. Based on a 12-step model, the treatment center offers family therapy, fitness, nutrition and other courses for patients.
Owensby requires patients to commit to a minimum of 90 days of treatment. She believes that the longer they receive treatment services, the more likely they will be able to sustain a long-term recovery plan. A longer treatment program may also reduce ‘triggers’ in a patient lives that may lead to a drug relapse.
Momenta’s opening has generated much interest from those seeking addiction treatment. Owensby believes that they may soon have to place people on a wait list.
Aside from Momenta, Owensby said, only three other programs — in Grand Junction, Denver and Pueblo — offer similar services.