El Paso County's 2025 Overdose Data and Why Polysubstance Treatment Matters

Key points

• El Paso County recorded 178 accidental overdose deaths in 2025, a 16% increase over 2024, according to the county coroner. Methamphetamine, fentanyl, and the two together were found in the largest number of cases. If someone may be overdosing, call 911.
• Local overdose data show that more than one substance can be involved, and polysubstance use changes what safe treatment has to include.
• Naloxone reverses opioids only. It should still be given when opioids might be involved.
• Treatment for meth and fentanyl together means medical detox, where opioid withdrawal can be managed with medication when a qualified medical provider determines it is appropriate, plus residential care built on the behavioral therapies the evidence supports for stimulant use.
• Spring Grove Recovery in Colorado Springs provides both. Admissions answers 24/7 at 719.415.3460.

In this article

• What the coroner’s 2025 report says about Colorado Springs
• What “polysubstance use” means
• Why meth and fentanyl together is different
• What treatment looks like when more than one substance is involved
• Polysubstance care at Spring Grove Recovery in Colorado Springs
• What to tell the admissions team
• Frequently asked questions
• If more than one substance is involved, say so. Then call.
• Sources

What the coroner’s 2025 report says about Colorado Springs

The El Paso County Coroner’s Office 2025 annual report, covered by the Colorado Springs Gazette on September 8, 2026, counted 178 accidental overdose deaths in the county last year and stated that drug overdoses “climbed by 16% compared to the previous year” [1]. As the Gazette’s headline put it, that bucks the national trend [2].

The substances tell the story. As the Colorado Springs Gazette summarized the report: “Among the drugs detected during autopsies, methamphetamines, fentanyl and the combination of the two were found in the largest number of cases” [2]. Cocaine is re-emerging as well — “another 29 people died after ingesting cocaine by itself or in combination” [2]. If someone may be overdosing, call 911.

If someone you love in Colorado Springs is using, more than one substance may be involved, whether they know it or not. This article explains what that means for their safety today and for their treatment when they are ready.

What “polysubstance use” means

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines it simply: polysubstance use is “the use of more than one drug,” including “when two or more are taken together or within a short time period, either intentionally or unintentionally” [3].

That last word matters. The CDC reports that “evidence is growing that some people are unintentionally exposed to opioids through opioid-contaminated stimulants, mislabeled or incorrectly identified drugs, or counterfeit stimulant products” [5]. A person who believes they are using only meth may be using fentanyl too.

Why meth and fentanyl together is different

A common belief is that a stimulant and a depressant cancel each other out. The CDC is direct: “Mixing stimulants and depressants doesn’t balance or cancel them out. In fact, the results of combining drugs are unpredictable, often modifying or even masking the effects of one or both drugs” [3].

Nationally, the pairing has become one of the most common in overdose deaths. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that people “overdose on methamphetamine alone or from a combination of methamphetamine and other drugs, particularly the opioids fentanyl and heroin,” and that methamphetamine is the second most commonly found drug in fatal overdoses, after synthetic opioids [4].

Three things follow for families in El Paso County:

1. Naloxone works on the opioid, not the stimulant. The CDC’s Stimulant Guide explains that naloxone “is not effective in treating a stimulant ‘overdose’” because “blocking opioid receptors does not interrupt the chemical processes that stimulants produce in the brain” [5].
2. Give it anyway. The same guide is clear that when “there is the potential that opioids have been consumed,” naloxone “may be lifesaving,” and that “no harms will be caused by the naloxone if opioids are not involved” [5].
3. Call 911. The CDC’s guidance is simple: “If you suspect someone is experiencing a stimulant overdose call 911” [5]. Serious signs it lists include confusion, rapid breathing, a fast or irregular heartbeat, overheating, and chest pain or tightness [5]. If someone is unresponsive or not breathing normally, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it. If someone is having thoughts of suicide, that is an emergency. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day by call or text, and 911 is the right call if someone is in immediate danger [6].

What treatment looks like when more than one substance is involved

Polysubstance use does not need two treatment programs. It needs one program that is built for both. Here is what that means in practice.

Medical detox that manages opioid withdrawal with medication. Opioid withdrawal is hard to get through alone. FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder — methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone — help people “stop or reduce opioid use” [7]. Methadone or buprenorphine can treat opioid withdrawal. Naltrexone is used after an appropriate opioid-free interval because starting it too soon can precipitate severe withdrawal. Qualified medical providers decide which medication is appropriate.

Care for stimulant withdrawal that focuses on the person, not a taper. SAMHSA’s treatment guidance on stimulant use disorders states plainly that “there are no FDA-approved medications for managing stimulant use disorders” [8]. What the evidence supports instead are behavioral approaches: SAMHSA names cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI) among the psychosocial treatments with the most research support [8], and NIDA lists CBT as effective for methamphetamine and cocaine use [9]. During stimulant withdrawal, the work is monitoring mood, sleep, and safety, and starting those therapies early.

One team that sees the whole picture. When opioids and stimulants are both in play, the person’s care team needs to plan for both. NIDA’s principles are clear that “no single treatment is appropriate for everyone” and that matching services to “an individual’s particular problems and needs is critical” [9].

Polysubstance care at Spring Grove Recovery in Colorado Springs

Spring Grove Recovery on Briargate Parkway provides medical detox and residential treatment in one place, so a person can move from withdrawal management into treatment without changing teams.

• Medical detox — medically supervised withdrawal management with 24/7 nursing support. Qualified medical providers evaluate medication needs and tailor medical care to each person, including buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) for opioid withdrawal and ongoing treatment. Naltrexone (Vivitrol) may be used after an appropriate opioid-free interval, not to treat acute opioid withdrawal. People who are already on methadone are welcome: daily dosing continues through a licensed opioid treatment program while in care, or the medical team supports a transition to another medication.
• Residential treatment — 24-hour care where you live on site. Individual and group sessions with clinicians use CBT and motivational interviewing — the approaches the evidence supports for stimulant use — along with DBT, trauma-informed care, and relapse prevention, alongside treatment for opioid use disorder.
• Care for co-occurring mental health conditions, treated alongside substance use.
• Family psychoeducation in person, right before visitation, and family therapy in person, once the patient signs a release of information.
• Peer support, including 12-step, SMART Recovery, and Refuge Recovery meetings.
• Discharge planning that starts at admission, with intensive case management. Before discharge, the team identifies the next level of care, makes referrals and schedules follow-up appointments when possible.

Medicaid, commercial insurance and private pay are accepted, and Spring Grove Recovery works with people who are uninsured. For Colorado Medicaid (Health First Colorado), Spring Grove Recovery is in network when the plan named on your card is CO Access, Colorado Community Health Alliance or Rocky Mountain Health Plan. Coverage depends on your specific plan, so have your member ID ready and admissions will verify your benefits before admission. Coverage check happens on the call. Spring Grove Recovery is accredited by The Joint Commission.

Length of stay is determined by medical necessity.

What to tell the admissions team

The more the team knows before arrival, the safer the first days are. Use this list.

1. Every substance you know of, including alcohol and prescription medications — and any you suspect.
2. When the last use was, and roughly how much.
3. Any past withdrawal that was severe: seizures, hallucinations, or a hospital visit.
4. Any medications the person takes now, including methadone or buprenorphine.
5. Mental health history, including any past thoughts of self-harm.
6. Medical conditions, pregnancy, and allergies.
7. Whether naloxone is in the home, and whether anyone knows how to use it.

Frequently asked questions

What is polysubstance use?

Polysubstance use is the use of more than one drug, either together or within a short time, on purpose or without knowing. In El Paso County’s 2025 overdose data, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and the two combined were found in the largest number of cases. If someone may be overdosing, call 911.

Does naloxone work if someone used meth and fentanyl?

Naloxone reverses opioids like fentanyl. It does not reverse a stimulant overdose. If there is any chance opioids are involved, give it anyway — it may be lifesaving and causes no harm if opioids are not involved — and call 911.

Is there a medication for meth withdrawal?

There are no FDA-approved medications for managing stimulant use disorders, but qualified medical providers may use medication to treat specific withdrawal symptoms such as severe depression, insomnia, agitation or psychosis [10]. Treatment relies on behavioral approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing, with close attention to mood, sleep, and safety during withdrawal.

Can I get treatment for both at the same place?

Yes. Spring Grove Recovery in Colorado Springs provides medical detox and residential treatment together, so opioid withdrawal can be managed with medication when a qualified medical provider determines it is appropriate, with 24/7 nursing support, while treatment for stimulant use begins with the same team.

What if I am already on methadone?

You are welcome. At Spring Grove Recovery, daily methadone dosing continues through a licensed opioid treatment program while you are in care, or the medical team supports a transition to another medication for opioid use disorder.

Does Spring Grove Recovery accept Medicaid?

Medicaid, commercial insurance and private pay are accepted, and Spring Grove Recovery works with people who are uninsured. For Colorado Medicaid (Health First Colorado), Spring Grove Recovery is in network when the plan named on your card is CO Access, Colorado Community Health Alliance or Rocky Mountain Health Plan. Coverage depends on your specific plan, so have your member ID ready and admissions will verify your benefits before admission. Coverage check happens on the call.

How long does treatment take when more than one substance is involved?

Length of stay is determined by medical necessity. It depends on the substances involved, your health, and how withdrawal and early recovery progress, and the care team reassesses throughout.

If more than one substance is involved, say so. Then call.

You do not have to untangle which drug is the problem before you ask for help. Call Spring Grove Recovery in Colorado Springs at 719.415.3460. Admissions answers 24/7, and coverage is checked on the call. Tell admissions every substance involved so the care plan can account for it.

Sources

1. El Paso County Coroner’s Office. 2025 Annual Report. https://epc-assets.elpasoco.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/Remediated_EPCCO-2025-Annual-Report.pdf
2. Colorado Springs Gazette. “Coroner’s report: Overdose deaths rise in El Paso County, buck national trend.” September 8, 2026. https://gazette.com/2026/09/08/coroners-report-overdose-deaths-rise-in-el-paso-county-buck-national-trend/
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Polysubstance Use Facts (Stop Overdose). https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/polysubstance-use.html
4. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Methamphetamine (research topic page). https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/methamphetamine
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Overdose Prevention. Stimulant Guide. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/media/pdfs/2024/03/CDC-Stimulant-Guide.pdf
6. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org/
7. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Medications for Opioid Use Disorder. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/medications-opioid-use-disorder
8. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. TIP 33: Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders — Executive Summary (NCBI Bookshelf). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK576539/
9. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition). https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/podat-3rdEd-508.pdf
10. American Society of Addiction Medicine and American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry. The ASAM/AAAP Clinical Practice Guideline on the Management of Stimulant Use Disorder (2023), pp. 113–114. https://www.aaap.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/stud_guideline_document_final.pdf