Opioid Treatment and MAT in Washington, DC

Washington has methadone clinics, office-based buprenorphine, and a 24/7 city access line that can start the process. Opioid care here should begin with medication and naloxone.

How bad the opioid problem is here

CDC provisional county-level counts show 315 drug overdose deaths in the District in 2024, down from 427 in 2023, and 272 in the 12 months ending December 2025. DC's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported an average of 43 opioid-related deaths per month in 2023, so even the lower numbers remain high for a city of about 700,000 people. Fentanyl is involved in the large majority of opioid deaths.

Medication options near Washington

Within 30 miles of downtown Washington (ZIP 20001), the SAMHSA treatment locator currently lists:

  • 21 federally certified opioid treatment programs (OTPs)
  • 82 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine
  • 71 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone treatment
  • 38 facilities offering detoxification and 178 substance use facilities overall

The 30-mile radius also reaches suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia.

The DC Department of Behavioral Health Access HelpLine (1-888-7WE-HELP / 1-888-793-4357, 24/7) can help with assessment and placement. Counts change as programs open and close.

Why medication matters for opioid use disorder

Medications for opioid use disorder (methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone when clinically appropriate) reduce overdose risk and support retention in care. Opioid withdrawal is miserable and dehydrating, but the bigger danger is losing tolerance and overdosing after a pause. Do not try to "tough out" fentanyl withdrawal without a plan for medication and naloxone.

If someone is overdosing - slow or stopped breathing, blue lips, unresponsive - call 911 and give naloxone if you have it. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.

Paying for opioid treatment in Washington

DC Medicaid covers medically necessary MOUD for eligible residents, including OTP methadone and office-based buprenorphine. Ask about same-week induction, injectable options, and prior authorization. Maryland and Virginia residents should check their own state Medicaid networks before crossing into the District.

How to start today

  1. If someone is overdosing, call 911 and give naloxone. For a crisis, call or text 988.
  2. Call or text (800) 653-9376 to speak with a treatment specialist, or use this form:

Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers, and we check your benefits before you commit.

  1. Search findtreatment.gov with ZIP code 20001 and filter for opioid treatment programs or buprenorphine.
  2. Ask any program whether same-week medication induction is available and whether they help with naloxone.

Opioid use disorder is treatable with medication and support. The first call is usually harder than the clinical start.

Call or text (800) 653-9376 Get help online