Adolescent medicine is the branch of medicine that specializes in treating adolescents and youths. An adolescent medicine physician focuses on the problems of patients who have reached puberty and are in adolescence. This physician specializes in the care of adolescents, including illness, substance abuse prevention and counseling, psychosocial disorders (depression and self-esteem problems, eating disorders), reproductive health, and sexuality issues.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Colorado has 41 practicing adolescent medicine doctors. Broken out by city, adolescent medicine doctor density in Arvada is 1, in Aspen is 1, in Aurora is 7, in Boulder is 1, in Brighton is 1, in Canon City is 1, in Castle Rock is 1, in Centennial is 8, in Colorado Springs is 2, in Denver is 9, in Eaton is 1, in Englewood is 7, in Estes Park is 1, in Fort Carson is 1, in Fort Collins is 3, in Greeley is 1, in Johnstown is 2, in Littleton is 6, in Louisville is 1, in Parker is 2, in Pueblo is 2, in Thornton is 1, and in Westminster is 2.

Colorado is the Centennial state; having won statehood in 1876. Its capital is Denver, called the “Mile High City,” because its altitude at the state capitol steps is 5,280 feet. Colorado’s population is 4,653,023, and over half the state’s population is in the Denver metro area. Known for its Rocky Mountains and abundant outdoor sports opportunities, such as skiing, hiking, fishing and hunting, Colorado also offers tourists Pike’s Peak, the Royal Gorge, and the Red Rocks outdoor amphitheater. Denver is home to an active theater culture, a world-class symphony, and many sports activities. You can visit a gold mine, tour the state capitol building, climb a mountain, or relax in some therapeutic natural hot springs.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Colorado has a population of 4,665,177. Of this population, 1,140,002 are under the age of 18 and 462,190 are at or above the age of 65.