Denver, CO
For teens, Denver Health’s STEP provides mental health and substance treatment — and hope
Now 19 years old, Bayley is one of hundreds of metro Denver teenagers who benefit every year from Denver Health’s Substance Abuse Treatment, Education and Prevention program, known as STEP.
STEP therapists and psychiatrists work with young people at the uniquely challenging intersection of mental health and substance use struggles, medical director Mario Lintz said.
Teens often come to STEP through school referrals or their parents seeking help, or because they were seen in the emergency room or referred through a diversion program for juveniles in the court system.
Like many program graduates, Bayley found it during one of the lowest points of his life. He attempted suicide by overdose when he was a sophomore in high school and was treated at Denver Health, where he connected with a doctor who told him about STEP.
The swirl of developmental changes that happen in adolescence already makes it a prime time for teens to develop anxiety and negative thinking, Lintz said. Those changes, added to teens’ inclination to take risks while they’re trying to figure out who they are, can be a volatile combination.
“With kids who have a traumatic past, substance use becomes something they use regularly to deal with those things,” Lintz said.
And it might make them feel better at first, until they start experiencing withdrawal symptoms and worsening side effects, and are now struggling with a substance use disorder along with an untreated mental health disorder.
To make it even more challenging, it’s hard to find a provider who will treat both, whether in Colorado or across the country, Lintz added.
“As much overlap as there is between substance use and mental health disorders, they’re often viewed separately, and there’s not a lot of providers who feel comfortable treating both. It can make the picture unclear, from a mental health standpoint, of what’s going on,” he said.
STEP fills that need with ongoing therapy, medication management and an intensive, eight-week outpatient program for teens and their families.
The program also goes the extra mile to remove barriers that often prevent people from accessing care.
STEP isn’t just in one location — providers meet with their patients at the Bannock Street offices as well as at 11 Denver-area high schools. The program pays for transportation for about 40 young people to get to appointments every week. And there are always plenty of snacks and beverages on hand for those who need them.
Five years after he first started STEP, Bayley is now working toward an associate’s degree in business with the goal of completing a bachelor’s in marketing and becoming a marketing or brand director. He plans to move to New York City this summer to further his career goals.
It’s a dramatic difference from where he was, Bayley said — from wanting to give up to loving himself and feeling comfortable in his skin.
“I was a 13-year-old who smoked weed all day and thought college was stupid,” Bayley said. “Now I’m going to college. I care more about my life. Before I was fine dying before 18, and now I’m 19 and I want to live.”
Denver Health STEP program
Address: 660 Bannock St., Denver, CO 80204
In operation since: 2003
Number of employees: 10
Number of volunteers: 0
Annual budget: $1,178,147
Number of clients served: 5,310 total visits in 2024
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The Denver Broncos are in the market for a running back.
Just two days after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Denver wants to have the running back position addressed before the draft, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that the Broncos are “poised to make a splash” at running back during NFL free agency.
“Denver is the reason why the Jets used the franchise tag on Breece Hall rather than the transition tag, according to sources, making sure Denver wouldn’t get the opportunity to put together an offer the Jets would refuse to match,” Jones wrote for CBS Sports.
Jones said the Broncos would be an obvious potential landing spot for Kenneth Walker, and he noted that Travis Etienne could be a cheaper alternative. The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider also reported this week that Denver is expected to “closely examine” the RB market, and he name-dropped Walker, Etienne and Rico Dowdle.
The Broncos also have an in-house free agent at RB in J.K. Dobbins, who has expressed his desire to remain in Denver. The Broncos can begin negotiating with pending free agents from other clubs on March 9, but no deals can become official until the new league year begins on March 11. In-house free agents can be re-signed at any time.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — The Class 5A Sweet 16 has arrived, and both Grand Junction and Palisade are still standing with trips to the Great Eight in Denver on the line.
At The Jungle, the No. 2 seed Grand Junction Tigers set the tone early against No. 18 Golden. Defense carried the Tigers from the opening tip as they held the Demons to nine first quarter points while scoring 16 of their own.
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Grand Junction added eight points in the second quarter while Golden managed six, sending the Tigers into halftime with a nine point lead.
Golden responded in the third quarter, outscoring Grand Junction 16 to 11 to cut the deficit to five entering the fourth. The Tigers answered in the final period, attacking the rim and converting key shots to win the quarter 19 to 10. Grand Junction secured a 54 to 41 victory to protect its home court and advance to the Great Eight in Denver.
Top seeded Palisade also defended its home floor with a trip to Denver at stake. The Bulldogs opened with nine straight points to energize a packed gym, but Frederick settled in and closed the first quarter on a run to tie the game at nine.
Frederick continued to respond in the second quarter and took an eight point lead into halftime.
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Palisade shifted momentum after the break. The Bulldogs tightened defensively, holding Frederick to 21 points in the second half while scoring 39 of their own. Palisade completed the comeback to advance to the Great Eight.
Colorado Mesa University Women Deliver Historic RMAC Tournament Win
In collegiate action, the top seeded Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball team defeated Colorado School of Mines 96 to 51 in the RMAC Tournament, marking the largest margin of victory in the tournament this century.
Olivia Reed-Thyne led the Mavericks with 34 points on 11 of 15 shooting, her third 30 point performance this season. Mason Rowland added 22 points and Hallie Clark contributed 10 as Colorado Mesa matched a program record with its 31st win. The Mavericks will host the semifinals Friday with a berth in the championship game at stake.
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Colorado Mesa University Men Survive Overtime Thriller
The Colorado Mesa University men’s basketball team faced New Mexico Highlands University for the third time this season. The Mavericks scored 36 first half points and led by four at the break.
New Mexico Highlands shot 50 percent in the second half, received 21 bench points and outscored Colorado Mesa 43 to 39 to force a late push. With the season in the balance, Ty Allred hit a game tying 3 pointer to make it 75 and send the game to overtime. Allred scored seven points in the extra period as Colorado Mesa earned a 91 to 90 victory to advance to the next round.
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