ALAMOSA — The Advantage Treatment Center plays a key role in the fight against addiction in the San Luis Valley. Kristina Daniel is part of the team at the ATC Alamosa branch. On Monday, Daniel presented to the Alamosa Rotary Club and told of the center’s work and how it has a role in the community moving forward.

The Advantage Treatment Center Inc. began in 1998 in the Denver-Metro area as a non-residential center for the treatment of court ordered offenders. In 2005, ATC made a transition with the establishment of a residential Community Corrections Facility in Sterling. Since that time, ATC has expanded with the opening of offices in Montrose in 2016, Alamosa in 2017, and Lamar in 2019. The ATC seeks to provide treatment services for those dealing with substance abuse in rural areas of the state that might not have these services available otherwise.

The Advantage Treatment Center’s work is funded by the State of Colorado through the Department of Public Safety and the Division of Criminal Justice on a contractual basis. The ATC is also overseen by a board of directors, which consists of numerous officials from the 12th Judicial District as well as some community members. Clients of the center have to meet eligibility requirements, such as a non- violent felony charge and ties to the community. The services that the center provides includes Intensive Residential Treatment, Diversion, Transition, Community Return to Custody, Condition of Parole, Condition of Probation, and Judicial Services.

Daniel noted that the Intensive Residential Treatment (IRT) is a particularly important part of the work that ATC does. The program is a 90-day treatment period for clients that have a substance abuse history. During treatment, the client receives a variety of treatment modalities that include individual and group therapy, peer lead activities, evidence based curriculum and other strategies for self-improvement. In order to be enrolled in the IRT program, a client must receive a referral from the Division of Criminal Justice, the Colorado Department of Corrections or Probation.

Daniel further noted that harm reduction is a “big goal,” at ATC. She made it clear that community safety is a huge part of what drives the ATC’s work. There is also a high demand for the services that ATC provides. Daniel also pointed out that measures of success are often determined by each individual client for themselves. The ideal goal at ATC is for clients to reach recidivism within two years. Daniel acknowledged that success “depends on the individual.” She also looks forward to the potential for service to the entire Valley that the ATC has.

“We are doing the best we can,” she said.

The Advantage Treatment Center is located at 2017 Lava Lane in Alamosa.