Heroin detox at Foundry Front Range is medically supervised withdrawal management (ASAM level 3.7) in our licensed medical facility in Broomfield, Colorado. Licensed nursing staff are available around the clock, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can begin when it is safe, and you can move directly into residential care in the same building.
Key takeaways
What it is: medically supervised heroin detox (ASAM 3.7) with 24/7 nursing.
Medications: buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone when clinically indicated.
Typical stay: about three to five days, then residential care on site if needed.
Coverage: Colorado Medicaid Regions 1 to 4 and most major insurance plans.
Why medically supervised heroin detox matters
Heroin withdrawal is rarely life-threatening on its own, but it is intensely uncomfortable and can cause complications like dehydration. The biggest risk is returning to use, because tolerance drops during withdrawal and a smaller dose can cause an overdose.
Medical supervision gives you symptom relief, monitoring, and a plan for what comes next. Heroin is increasingly mixed with fentanyl, which makes careful medical timing of opioid medications more important.
Who heroin detox at Foundry is for
Our detox program serves adults 18 and older who are dependent on heroin or other opioids and need a safe, monitored place to withdraw. Inpatient detox is a stronger fit than trying to withdraw at home if any of these apply:
You have overdosed before or have used alone.
You also use alcohol or benzodiazepines, which raise medical risk.
You have heart, lung, or other serious health conditions.
You have depression, anxiety, PTSD, or thoughts of self-harm.
You have tried to quit on your own and returned to use to stop withdrawal.
You don’t have a safe, substance-free place to stay.
If you’re pregnant, tell admissions during screening so the team can review your care plan. Foundry does not treat adolescents.
Heroin withdrawal timeline
Symptoms usually start within 12 hours of the last heroin use. They are often strongest in the first few days and usually ease within about a week, though everyone’s course is different.
| Phase | Typical timing | Common symptoms | What our team does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early withdrawal | Within about 12 hours | Anxiety, muscle aches, sweating, runny nose, yawning, insomnia | Intake assessment, vital signs, withdrawal scoring, symptom relief |
| Peak withdrawal | First few days | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, goosebumps, strong cravings | Close monitoring, fluids, MAT when timing is safe |
| Easing | Later in the first week | Physical symptoms fade; cravings and poor sleep may continue | Medication adjustments, care planning |
| Transition | End of detox stay | Lingering fatigue, mood changes, cravings | Discharge or transfer plan, overdose prevention education |
| After detox | Weeks to months | Cravings, sleep and mood symptoms | Continued MAT, therapy, and step-down care |
Medications used during heroin detox
Our medical team chooses medications based on your substance use history, timing of last use, other medications, health conditions, and goals. MAT pairs FDA-approved medication with counseling and therapy, and it can start during detox and continue through residential care.
| Medication | How it works | Who it may fit | How Foundry provides it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buprenorphine | Partial opioid agonist that eases withdrawal and cravings | Adults with opioid use disorder | Prescribed and monitored by our medical team, often starting in detox |
| Methadone | Full opioid agonist taken daily | Severe opioid use disorder, or people already stable on methadone | Coordinated by our medical team when clinically indicated |
| Naltrexone | Opioid blocker with no opioid effect | People who are fully opioid-free after detox | Prescribed when clinically indicated |
| Symptom medications | Relieve sweating, anxiety, nausea, diarrhea, and sleep problems | Most people in opioid withdrawal | Ordered by our medical team as needed |
| Psychiatric medications | Treat co-occurring anxiety, depression, or other conditions | People with co-occurring mental health needs | Prescribed and coordinated with your MAT plan |
Buprenorphine can only start once withdrawal has begun, because an early dose can trigger sudden, severe withdrawal. Starting in medically supervised detox lets our nursing and medical staff time the first dose safely.
Explore medication options
What to expect: admission through your first week
Starting detox begins with one call or an online benefits check. Detox units are typically available immediately; admissions will confirm current availability when you call.
- Verify insurance or call admissions. Admissions confirms your coverage, including Medicaid, and explains any plan-specific steps.
- Clinical screening. We review your substance use, last use, medical history, and current medications to confirm detox is the right level of care.
- Arrival and assessment. You receive a medical evaluation with vital signs, withdrawal scoring, a mental health assessment, and lab work.
- Stabilization. Licensed nurses monitor you around the clock. Your medical team manages symptoms and starts MAT when it is safe.
- Daily review. Your team checks symptoms, sleep, and medication response each day and adjusts your plan.
- Discharge or transition. You leave with a written care plan, overdose prevention education, and naloxone access, or move straight into residential treatment.
Lab work during detox may include thyroid function, blood counts, electrolytes, kidney and liver function, HIV, hepatitis B and C, sexually transmitted infections, diabetes screening, and cholesterol.
Pradeep Raj Rai, MD, DABAM
Chief Medical Officer
Ready to talk through detox and coverage?
Admissions will confirm your benefits, review clinical fit, and tell you when a detox bed is available.
After detox: levels of care at Foundry
Detox treats withdrawal, not addiction itself. Most people need continued treatment, and our detox and residential programs share one Broomfield facility, so you don’t change providers when withdrawal ends.
| Level of care | Setting | Medical oversight | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medically supervised detox (ASAM 3.7) | Inpatient, licensed medical facility | Around-the-clock nursing, physician oversight | Safe heroin withdrawal and stabilization |
| Residential treatment (ASAM 3.5) | Live-in, same facility | 24/7 structure and support | Intensive therapy after detox |
| Partial hospitalization (PHP) | Full-day program, home at night | Daily medical and psychiatric support | Daily structure without an overnight stay |
| Intensive outpatient (IOP) | Part-day sessions several days a week | Scheduled clinical check-ins | Treatment alongside work or family |
| Virtual IOP | Secure telehealth | Remote clinical oversight | When travel is a barrier |
Care for higher-risk situations
Alcohol or benzodiazepine use
Combining heroin with alcohol or benzodiazepines raises the risk of dangerous sedation and withdrawal complications. Your medical team plans medications around every substance you use and monitors you more closely.
Serious medical needs
We complete full medical screening on arrival. When medical needs exceed what our facility can provide, we coordinate referral to a local hospital partner, and you can return to programming once stable.
Pregnancy
Tell admissions during screening so the team can review your care plan before arrival.
Explore conditions we treat
Integrated dual diagnosis care
Anxiety, depression, and PTSD often show up alongside heroin use, and withdrawal can make them feel worse. We assess mental health at intake and treat it alongside withdrawal, with psychiatric medication management coordinated with your MAT plan.
Our Trauma-Integrated Care model, developed by Dr. Michael Barnes, treats unresolved trauma as part of addiction. As you move into residential care, your plan may include individual and group therapy, EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), polyvagal-informed care, and Acuwellness.
Explore treatment approaches
Insurance and Medicaid for heroin detox
Foundry Front Range accepts Colorado Medicaid (Health First Colorado) Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4 and is in-network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Multi-Plan, Rocky Mountain Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare. We also work with most major insurance plans.
Medicaid does cover rehab, and Medicaid clients receive the same continuum of care as every other client. Coverage for specific services depends on your plan, so admissions verifies your benefits and explains any out-of-pocket costs before you arrive.
Next step
What to bring to detox
Pack light. Detox is for rest, and most of what you need is provided.
Bring
- Photo ID and insurance or Medicaid card
- Prescription medications in their original labeled containers, plus a list of doses and prescribers
- Comfortable, loose clothing for several days and basic toiletries
- Name and phone number of an emergency contact
Leave at home
Valuables, large amounts of cash, and outside food or drinks. Admissions will share the full guidelines before you arrive.
Why choose Foundry Front Range for heroin detox
Addiction medicine leads your care. Our Chief Medical Officer is board-certified in addiction medicine and oversees detox protocols and medication management.
Medicaid is welcome. Colorado Medicaid clients receive the same clinical team, facility, and programming as every other client.
Detox and residential in one building. MAT can begin in detox and continue into residential care with the same team and the same plan.
Gender-specific detox units. Separate women’s and men’s detox units support safety and trust during withdrawal.
Licensed and accredited. A 44,000 square foot medical facility licensed by the State of Colorado, accredited by The Joint Commission, and LegitScript certified.
Our Broomfield location
Foundry Front Range
11952 Gray St.
Broomfield, CO 80020
Our detox program is about 30 minutes from the Denver Metro area and Denver International Airport.
- Broomfield
- Westminster
- Thornton
- Lafayette
- Louisville
- Boulder
- Denver Metro
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Frequently asked questions
Does Colorado Medicaid cover heroin detox at Foundry Front Range?
Foundry accepts Colorado Medicaid (Health First Colorado) Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4. Medicaid often covers medically necessary detox and MAT when clinical criteria are met, but benefits vary by plan. Admissions verifies your coverage and explains any costs before you arrive.
How long does heroin detox take at Foundry?
A typical detox stay is about three to five days. Your medical team sets the actual length based on how your withdrawal progresses, your health, and when MAT starts. Many people continue straight into residential treatment afterward.
Can I start Suboxone or methadone during detox?
Often, yes. Buprenorphine (the main ingredient in Suboxone) usually starts once withdrawal has begun, when your medical team confirms the timing is safe. Methadone is coordinated by our medical team when clinically indicated, and your prescriber recommends the best option for you.
Is heroin withdrawal dangerous?
Heroin withdrawal is rarely life-threatening on its own, but vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration, and mixing heroin with alcohol or benzodiazepines adds medical risk. The greatest danger comes after withdrawal, when lower tolerance makes overdose more likely.
What’s the difference between inpatient and outpatient heroin detox?
Inpatient detox gives you around-the-clock nursing, on-site medication management, and a direct path into residential care. Outpatient detox offers less supervision and fits people with milder withdrawal, strong support at home, and no other major risks. Our clinical screening helps decide which setting is safest.
What happens after heroin detox?
Detox is the first step, not the whole treatment. Most clients move into residential treatment at our Broomfield facility, then step down to PHP, IOP, or virtual IOP. Every client leaves detox with a written care plan and overdose prevention education.
Can my family be involved?
Yes, with your consent. Through the Michael Barnes Family Institute, families learn how addiction works and how to support recovery at home.
How do I get started?
Call (720) 807-7867 or submit a benefits check online. Admissions confirms your coverage, reviews clinical fit, and tells you when a detox bed is available.
Start heroin detox at Foundry Front Range
Verify your insurance or call admissions to start medically supervised heroin detox in Broomfield. The first conversation is confidential, and there’s no obligation to admit.
- Colorado Medicaid Regions 1 to 4
- Joint Commission accredited
- Licensed by the State of Colorado
- LegitScript certified
Licensed and accredited: Licensed by the State of Colorado · Accredited by The Joint Commission · LegitScript certified · Meet the team
Content on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Medication, coverage, and level of care are determined by individual clinical assessment and plan benefits. If you or someone else is experiencing an overdose, call 911. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).