What to expect in rehab depends on three things: your level of care, your withdrawal risk, and your treatment plan. Most people start with a medical assessment, move through medically supervised detox in Broomfield if withdrawal is a risk, and then step into residential therapy and an aftercare plan.
TL;DR: Rehab starts with a medical assessment. Detox keeps withdrawal safe, residential care builds recovery skills, and admissions can check your coverage before you arrive.
Key Takeaways
- Your first day is medical: Expect an assessment, vital signs, a medication review, and withdrawal monitoring within hours of arrival.
- Detox is short, residential is longer: Detox at Foundry typically runs 3 to 5 days; many residential stays run roughly 30 to 90 days, based on clinical need and coverage.
- Medication is part of care when indicated: Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is available when clinically appropriate, paired with counseling.
- Colorado Medicaid can cover it: Foundry accepts Health First Colorado (Medicaid) in Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4, plus several commercial plans.
- Your records have strong legal protection: Federal 42 CFR Part 2 rules limit how substance use treatment records can be shared, including with employers.
Questions before you arrive? Call admissions at (720) 807-7867 to talk through your situation.
Who this guide is for
We wrote this guide for adults 18 and older, family members, and referring providers near Denver and Broomfield who are weighing two levels of care defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Level 3.7 is medically supervised detox. Level 3.5 is residential treatment with daily therapy.
Clear expectations lower anxiety. Each section below opens with a direct answer, then gives the practical details.
Admissions and your first 24 hours in rehab
Your first 24 hours focus on safety: a medical and mental health assessment, withdrawal monitoring, and an initial care plan. You’ll also get oriented to the facility, its routines, and your care team.
What happens during the first 24 hours after you arrive?
During the first day, you’re medically assessed and stabilized. Staff complete paperwork, check vital signs, reconcile your medications, begin withdrawal monitoring, and start an initial care plan.
A typical first-day intake includes:
- Admissions paperwork: consent forms, insurance details, and your medical and social history.
- Medical exam and vitals: a physical exam, with labs or an EKG (electrocardiogram) if clinically indicated.
- Withdrawal monitoring: nursing checks around the clock, often using standardized scales such as CIWA (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for alcohol) or COWS (Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale).
- Mental health screening: a suicide risk assessment and screening for co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, or trauma.
- Medication review: your current prescriptions, allergies, and any past medication-assisted treatment.
If withdrawal medications are needed, the medical team starts them early and adjusts them as your symptoms change. A clinician then uses your assessment to build an individualized plan, including a step into residential care when appropriate.
What are the 7 steps of rehab admissions and treatment planning?
Admissions and treatment planning usually follow seven steps that confirm your safety, clinical fit, and coverage before and after you arrive.
- Phone screen: a short call covers recent substance use, safety concerns, and timing.
- Insurance verification: admissions checks your benefits, including Medicaid when it applies.
- Clinical assessment: a clinician reviews your history and screens for mental health needs.
- Medical evaluation: a medical provider reviews withdrawal risk, vitals, and current medications.
- Level-of-care placement: clinicians use ASAM criteria to match you to detox, residential, or outpatient care.
- Treatment plan: you and your team set goals, choose therapies, and estimate length of stay.
- Orientation: you meet your care team and learn the facility’s routines and safety rules.
The Foundry Front Range admissions team can walk you or a family member through each step and help determine the right level of care.
What should you bring to rehab?
Bring your ID, insurance card, current medications in their original containers, and comfortable clothing. For detox, Foundry recommends loose-fitting clothes for a three- to five-day stay, plus basic hygiene items.
What to bring:
- Government photo ID and insurance card (including your Health First Colorado card, if you have one)
- Prescription medications in original pharmacy bottles, plus a written list with doses
- Emergency contact information and any recent medical or psychiatric records
- Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing, sleepwear, and closed-toe shoes
- Toiletries such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant
- Eyeglasses or contact lens supplies and a phone charger
Commonly restricted items include alcohol, illicit drugs, weapons, extra medications, and large amounts of cash or valuables. Rules on phones, vapes, and other electronics vary, so confirm the current list with admissions before you pack.
Medically supervised detox (ASAM 3.7) vs residential treatment (ASAM 3.5)
Detox is short-term medical stabilization; residential treatment is longer therapeutic care with daily programming. Many people complete detox first, then move directly into residential care so treatment continues without a gap.
Levels of care compared
| Level of care | Typical time on site | Medical monitoring | Typical activities | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medically supervised detox (ASAM 3.7) | 24/7 for several days | Physician-led, with 24/7 nursing | Symptom monitoring, withdrawal medications, rest | Stabilizes withdrawal and prepares you for the next level |
| Residential treatment (ASAM 3.5) | Live on site with full-day structure | Ongoing medical oversight and on-site psychiatric care | Individual and group therapy, education, recreation | Focus on therapy, relapse prevention, and co-occurring care |
| Partial hospitalization program (PHP) | Several hours a day, usually weekdays | Regular medical check-ins | Day-long therapy blocks | Step-down from residential or step-up from outpatient |
| Intensive outpatient program (IOP) | A few hours a day, several days a week | Limited routine medical checks | Group therapy, skills training, counseling | Works best with stable housing and support |
| Standard outpatient | A few hours a week | Minimal medical monitoring | Individual therapy, support groups, medication management | Long-term recovery support and maintenance |
How is detox different from residential treatment?
Detox manages the physical risk of withdrawal under 24-hour medical care. At Foundry, detox is physician-led withdrawal management with nursing staff available around the clock, and a typical stay ranges from three to five days.
Residential care shifts the focus to therapy, relapse prevention, and psychiatric care. Residential addiction treatment near Denver at Foundry includes full-day structured programming, daily individual and group therapy, and on-site psychiatric care.
How do outpatient programs fit in after rehab?
Outpatient care lets you live at home while attending scheduled treatment, usually as a step down after residential care. Foundry’s outpatient options include an intensive outpatient program (IOP) and a virtual intensive outpatient program for people who need flexibility.
The right level depends on withdrawal risk, medical and psychiatric needs, housing stability, insurance, and how you’ve responded to past treatment.
Withdrawal in rehab: symptoms, timelines, and safety
Many people experience withdrawal when they stop using, and its severity depends on the substance, dose, length of use, and your health history. Medically supervised detox treats symptoms early, which makes withdrawal safer and more comfortable.
Typical acute withdrawal timelines by substance
| Substance | Typical acute withdrawal timeline | Common medications for symptom relief or MAT | Clinical notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Starts within hours, peaks around 72 hours; seizure risk 8 to 48 hours; delirium tremens risk about days 3 to 8 | Benzodiazepine taper, thiamine, supportive medications | Delirium tremens (DTs) can be life-threatening without medical care |
| Opioids (heroin, fentanyl, prescription opioids) | Often starts 8 to 24 hours after last use for short-acting opioids; later for long-acting opioids | Buprenorphine or methadone (MAT); clonidine or lofexidine for symptoms | MAT reduces cravings and overdose risk when clinically indicated |
| Benzodiazepines | Days to weeks, with possible protracted symptoms | Gradual, supervised taper | Stopping abruptly carries a high seizure risk |
| Stimulants (cocaine, meth) | Crash within 24 to 72 hours; mood symptoms can last weeks | Symptom-targeted medications; no FDA-approved MAT | Depression and suicidal thoughts can emerge, so monitoring matters |
| Cannabis | 1 to 14 days, usually mild to moderate | Short-term support for sleep and anxiety | Symptoms are typically milder than alcohol or opioid withdrawal |
Timelines are general clinical ranges, and your own course can differ. The National Institutes of Health’s StatPearls review of alcohol withdrawal syndrome explains why alcohol is the highest-risk case: symptoms can begin within hours, seizures usually occur 8 to 48 hours after the last drink, and delirium can develop days later.
Will withdrawal be painful?
Withdrawal is uncomfortable for many people, but medical detox is designed to keep it manageable. Nurses monitor you around the clock, and physicians can prescribe medications that ease symptoms and reduce cravings.
Common symptoms include tremors, anxiety, nausea, sweating, insomnia, irritability, low mood, and cravings. Opioid withdrawal is rarely life-threatening on its own, but it’s intensely uncomfortable; the signs of fentanyl withdrawal show how quickly symptoms can build.
When is withdrawal a medical emergency?
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for seizures, severe confusion, hallucinations, chest pain, or trouble breathing. Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal carry the highest risk of seizures, which is why stopping either one without medical support isn’t recommended.
A typical day in residential rehab
A typical day in residential rehab balances structured therapy, medical care, meals, and rest. Days follow a predictable schedule so your energy goes toward recovery instead of decisions.
What does a daily schedule look like?
Times vary, but most residential days follow a similar rhythm:
- Morning: wake-up, vital checks, medications, and breakfast
- Mid-morning: group therapy or education sessions, such as relapse prevention skills
- Late morning: individual therapy, nursing visits, or medical appointments
- Afternoon: specialty groups such as trauma work, family therapy, or skills training
- Evening: dinner, recreation, and optional evening groups
- Night: quiet hours, with nursing staff monitoring overnight
Your schedule may shift around medication timing and clinical needs.
What therapies will you receive in rehab?
You’ll receive evidence-based behavioral therapies, plus medication-assisted treatment when appropriate. At Foundry, residential care includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) when clinically appropriate, group therapy, and family therapy.
MAT is offered when clinically indicated and is always paired with counseling. Psychiatric medication management addresses co-occurring conditions such as depression or anxiety.
Can you contact family or work during rehab?
Yes, but contact is structured to protect your safety and focus. Phone and visitor access is often limited early in detox, then expands as you stabilize.
Family involvement follows your signed release of information, so you control who receives updates. Foundry’s family addiction program helps loved ones understand addiction and support your recovery. Confirm current visiting and phone policies with admissions before you arrive.
Privacy and your job: what the law protects while you’re in rehab
Two of the biggest worries people have about rehab are who will find out and whether they’ll lose their job. Federal law gives substance use treatment records stronger protection than most other health records, and job-protected leave is available to many workers.
How does 42 CFR Part 2 protect your treatment records?
42 CFR Part 2 is the federal regulation that governs the confidentiality of substance use disorder treatment records from federally assisted programs. Updated rules took full effect on February 16, 2026, and they changed how consent, sharing, and enforcement work.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Part 2 final rule fact sheet lists the protections that matter most to patients:
- Single consent: you can sign one consent covering future uses for treatment, payment, and health care operations.
- Legal protection: your records and related testimony generally can’t be used against you in civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings without your consent or a court order.
- Separate consent for counseling notes: substance use counseling notes need their own specific consent.
- Breach notification: you must be notified if your records are involved in a breach.
- Complaint rights: you can file a complaint directly with HHS if you believe your rights were violated.
In practice, a treatment program generally can’t confirm you’re a patient to an employer, landlord, or relative unless you’ve signed a consent. Ask during intake which releases you’re signing and what each one allows.
Can you take time off work for rehab?
Many workers can take job-protected leave for addiction treatment. Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for substance use treatment provided by a health care provider.
FMLA eligibility generally requires working for a covered employer for at least 12 months and 1,250 hours in the past year. Your employer may ask for medical certification, but that certification doesn’t need to include your full treatment records.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can also protect people in treatment or recovery who aren’t currently using illegal drugs. For specifics on your situation, talk with your HR department or an employment attorney before you leave.
What are the limits of confidentiality in rehab?
Confidentiality has a few legal limits. Staff must act when someone is at imminent risk of harming themselves or others, and they must follow mandatory reporting laws, such as those covering child abuse.
Ask admissions or nursing during intake who can access your records and how sensitive information is handled.
Co-occurring disorders, women’s programming, and who Foundry serves
Integrated programs assess and treat substance use and mental health at the same time. At Foundry, both are assessed at intake and built into one treatment plan, so medical, psychiatric, and therapy care stay coordinated.
How does rehab treat co-occurring mental health disorders?
Rehab treats co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, and trauma alongside substance use rather than one after the other. Treating both together matters because untreated mental health symptoms are a common relapse trigger.
Care typically includes a psychiatric evaluation, medication management, individual and group therapy, family involvement, and coordinated aftercare. You can review the full range of conditions Foundry treats before you call.
How does women’s treatment change what to expect in rehab?
Gender-specific programs offer dedicated groups, trauma-informed content, and supports shaped around women’s experiences. Foundry’s women’s rehab program is one of its dedicated residential tracks.
Does Foundry treat teens or pregnant patients?
Foundry Front Range treats adults 18 and older, so adolescents need a program designed for teens. If you’re pregnant, tell admissions right away; care during pregnancy requires coordination with obstetric providers and careful medication decisions.
Length of stay, discharge planning, and aftercare
Length of stay depends on your level of care and clinical progress. Detox at Foundry typically lasts three to five days, and many residential stays run roughly 30 to 90 days depending on your needs, progress, and coverage authorization.
Clinicians use ASAM criteria to guide those decisions. They weigh withdrawal severity, co-occurring conditions, your response to treatment, and your support at home.
What happens at discharge?
Discharge planning starts at admission, so you leave with a written aftercare plan and scheduled next steps. Typical elements include:
- Referrals to IOP or outpatient care, with follow-up appointments already booked
- MAT continuation and a connection to a community prescriber, if needed
- A relapse prevention plan with your triggers and coping strategies
- Sober living referrals and peer support connections
- Medical and psychiatric follow-up appointments
Ask your discharge coordinator for written contact numbers and next-step dates before you leave.
Insurance, Medicaid, and the cost of rehab
Colorado Medicaid can cover medically supervised detox and residential treatment, and Foundry Front Range accepts it. Coverage still depends on your plan, medical necessity, and any prior authorization your plan requires.
Does Colorado Medicaid cover rehab at Foundry Front Range?
Yes. Foundry accepts Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) in Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4 for ASAM 3.7 detox and ASAM 3.5 residential care. Learn how the process works on the Medicaid rehab program page.
Detox and residential care commonly require prior authorization, which your Regional Accountable Entity (RAE) determines. Foundry submits documentation on your behalf, and turnaround varies by plan and clinical complexity.
Foundry is also in-network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Multi-Plan, Rocky Mountain Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare, and works with most major insurance plans.
What Medicaid changes are coming in Colorado in 2027?
Starting January 1, 2027, federal law requires some Health First Colorado members ages 19 to 64 to meet work requirements, and some adults will need to renew coverage every six months instead of once a year. Health First Colorado lists exemptions, including some people living with or in recovery from a substance use disorder.
Members who don’t comply or renew on time can lose coverage, so keep your contact information current and watch for renewal notices. For more on how funding shifts affect access, read our look at Medicaid treatment defunding impacts.
How much does rehab cost?
Foundry doesn’t publish retail pricing, because costs vary by level of care, length of stay, and insurer. Admissions can verify your benefits and explain what your plan covers before you commit to treatment.
Common myths about rehab
Rehab is a set of medical and psychosocial treatments that stabilize you, manage withdrawal safely, and teach relapse prevention skills. It lowers risk and supports recovery, but it doesn’t guarantee lifelong abstinence.
Is rehab just talk therapy?
No. Evidence-based rehab combines psychotherapy with medication when clinically indicated. MAT can treat opioid and alcohol use disorders, and psychiatric medications address co-occurring conditions.
Does relapse mean rehab didn’t work?
No. Addiction is a chronic condition, and relapse can be part of recovery rather than proof that treatment failed. Knowing the relapse definition and warning signs helps you and your family respond early instead of giving up.
Questions to ask your admissions coordinator
Bring these questions to your first call so you get clear answers before admission day:
- Will you verify my insurance or Health First Colorado benefits?
- Does my plan require prior authorization, and who submits it?
- How long is a typical detox and residential stay for someone like me?
- Is MAT available, and what’s your policy on my current prescriptions?
- What are the visiting hours, phone rules, and family communication options?
- Which consent forms will I sign, and who can receive information about my care?
- What does discharge planning include, and when does it start?
Frequently asked questions about rehab
What is the 60% rule in rehab?
The 60% rule is a Medicare requirement for inpatient rehabilitation facilities that provide physical medical rehab, not addiction treatment. It requires that at least 60% of a facility’s patients have one of a set list of qualifying conditions, such as stroke or spinal cord injury. It doesn’t apply to addiction treatment programs.
What are the 5 phases of rehab?
Many programs describe five broad phases: assessment and engagement, medical stabilization or detox if needed, primary treatment and therapy, discharge planning, and long-term recovery with community support. Your path may skip or repeat phases based on clinical need.
Do you have to attend 12-step meetings in rehab?
Not necessarily. Programs vary, and many offer 12-step facilitation as one option alongside other peer support approaches. Ask admissions which recovery support models are available and whether participation is expected.
Can you leave rehab early?
Treatment is voluntary for most adults, so you can generally choose to leave. Leaving detox early can be medically risky, especially during alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal, so talk with your care team about safer options before you decide.
Do you need a referral to use Medicaid for rehab?
Health First Colorado states that behavioral health services, including substance use disorder treatment, are available to members without a referral and without a copay. Requirements can still vary by plan and service, so admissions will confirm your benefits.
Can you bring your phone to rehab?
Phone policies vary by program and level of care. Access is often limited during early detox, then expands as you stabilize. Confirm the current electronics policy with admissions before you arrive.
Will rehab cure addiction?
No. Rehab isn’t a permanent cure, but it gives you medical care, coping tools, and a support plan that lower relapse risk. Ongoing aftercare, and MAT when indicated, supports recovery over time.
How do you get admitted to rehab?
Start with a call to admissions for a brief screening and insurance verification. The team will guide you through the clinical assessment, any prior authorization, and scheduling your arrival.
Start admissions at Foundry Front Range
If you or someone you love needs safe withdrawal care and ongoing treatment, Foundry Front Range can help. Foundry provides ASAM 3.7 medically supervised detox and ASAM 3.5 residential treatment in a Colorado state-licensed, Joint Commission accredited medical facility in Broomfield.
Your next steps:
- Call admissions at (720) 807-7867 to talk through your clinical needs and admission timing.
- Verify your insurance online and have your primary substance, last use, current medications, and insurance details ready.
- If detox is appropriate, the team will arrange your admission and coordinate your transition into residential care.
You can also contact Foundry Front Range with questions for you or a family member.
Medically reviewed by Jasmine Aranda, Chief Clinical Officer, Foundry Front Range. Published September 28, 2026. Last updated September 28, 2026.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your specific situation. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
