Denver Health announced on Apr. 2 that its Community Addiction Rehabilitation and Evaluation Services (CARES) will host a summer intern, made possible by a grant from the NDASA Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association.
The internship is intended to support workforce development in substance use care and introduce students to careers in this field. The program aims to provide hands-on experience with best practices in alcohol and drug testing within Denver’s busiest withdrawal management setting.
According to Denver Health, the NDASA Foundation focuses on education, prevention, and recovery efforts related to substance misuse. The foundation’s mission is to promote drug-free communities through advocacy and educational initiatives. The timing of the internship coincides with a period when alcohol and substance use can increase during the summer months.
Denver CARES has served as Denver’s main provider for withdrawal management for nearly fifty years, offering both short-term and residential treatment options for individuals with substance use disorders. The facility provides safe care while helping patients transition into further treatment or recovery programs.
During the internship, participants will learn about clinical treatment methods, legal regulations around substance use care, interactions with third-party payers, and how withdrawal management connects clients to ongoing treatment services. This initiative highlights Denver CARES’ role as an entry point for individuals seeking help toward recovery or transitioning back into workplaces committed to being drug-free.
The grant was facilitated through the Denver Health Foundation, which supports patient care programs by securing philanthropic funding.
