News & Views
Thurstone named ‘Top Doc’ in ’26
I am deeply humbled and grateful to have been included in the 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors® list. Receiving this recognition for the 11th consecutive year -- awarded through a rigorous, peer-nominated and physician-led process that honors only about 7 percent, or...
Denver Health among first hospitals named Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic
If a book ever were written about the history of mental healthcare in Colorado, Jan. 6, 2026, would earn prominent mention because Denver Health, the public hospital where Dr. Chris Thurstone serves as chairman of behavioral health services, became the state’s first...
IMAP: Denver Health’s groundbreaking integrated medical and psychiatric care unit
Denver Health's new Integrative Medical and Psychiatric Care Unit (IMAP) is a first in Colorado and one of few in the United States. The 12-bed unit brings together medical and behavioral healthcare specialists in one collaborative setting to better treat patients...
Dr. T featured in “Cannabis-Induced Psychosis: A Silent Epidemic”
Our friends at the drug-abuse prevention and education nonprofit Johnny's Ambassadors have produced an important documentary about cannabis-induced psychosis. We hope you'll make time to watch Cannabis-Induced Psychosis: A Silent Epidemic and share it far and wide....
Proud Parenting Moment: Asa Thurstone, Valedictorian
We're delighted to share that our son, Christian Asa Thurstone, is valedictorian of the Valor Christian High School Class of 2025. Asa, who already has one research publication under his belt, has accepted the prestigious Aequitas Fellowship in Global Public Health at...
Dr. T speaks with NBC News about THC-induced psychosis
Dr. Christian Thurstone spoke with NBC News for this report about teen marijuana use and growing concerns about the rising number of cases of cannabis-induced psychosis. From the report: "As many as half of people with cannabis-induced psychosis may go on to develop...
Dr. T named to prestigious “Top Docs” list
Dr. Christian Thurstone, chair of behavioral health at Denver Health, has been named in the Castle Connolly Top Docs list this year. The selection process is rigorous, and only 7 percent, or about 67,000, of the United States' more than 985,000 practicing physicians...
Program evaluation to aid choice of Aripiprazole or Risperidone for hospitalized adolescents with cannabis use disorder and psychosis
Co-occurring cannabis use and psychosis is an increasing problem. No single behavioral or pharmacologic treatment has emerged as clearly superior. To address the gap, this nonrandomized, quality improvement project compares outcomes for adolescents with co-occurring...
Denver Health opens only licensed adolescent detox center
Denver Health is celebrating the opening of Colorado's first and only licensed detoxification facility for adolescents. The unit is at 723 N. Delaware St., on the second floor of the hospital's Pavilion M building. It is designed...
Marijuana’s health, policy impacts on Colorado and North Carolina
Dr. Christian Thurstone recently spoke with the Triangle Christian Medical and Dental Associations about marijuana's impacts on health and public policy, and he provides an overview of the details of a "medical marijuana" initiative being pushed by (mostly Democratic...
Read the book
Clearing the Haze is a guide designed to help parents determine whether their child may have a substance problem and, if so, how to begin to address it. This book includes the voices and insight of experts in substance abuse counseling, young people in recovery, and parents who have lived the nightmare of adolescent addiction.