Quick answer
Summit County treated an estimated 739 drug-overdose emergency visits in 2024 - about two a day, over half from Akron. The County of Summit ADM Board funds the recovery system at 1867 W. Market Street, and a METRO RTA bus ride costs $1.25. Here is how to start.
Last updated: Fri Oct 02 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Akron runs the deepest recovery system in Summit County. County emergency rooms logged an estimated 739 drug-overdose visits in 2024 - about two a day - and just over half of those victims came from Akron. Overdose deaths have fallen since their mid-2020s peak, the county's ADM Board funds treatment and prevention from its Market Street office, and a METRO RTA ride costs $1.25. Here is what to know.
What the county data show
Akron is the seat of Summit County, which the Census Bureau's latest sub-county estimates put at about 538,370 residents, with roughly 189,664 in Akron itself. Summit County Public Health tracks the picture closely: in 2024, emergency rooms serving county residents treated an estimated 739 drug overdoses (about 2.0 per day), and the health department reported 101 accidental overdose fatalities as of November 2024 - the county medical examiner's preliminary count stood at 133. Deaths had averaged 197 a year over the previous five years.
The trend has kept bending down. County officials reported 155 overdose deaths in 2024 and 110 in 2025, and the ADM Board - which works with the Summit County medical examiner's office - updates an overdose death dashboard weekly. Statewide, the Ohio Department of Health's 2024 report shows 2,931 unintentional drug overdose deaths in 2024, down about 34% from 4,452 in 2023.
Economic stress shapes who seeks help. Summit County's unemployment rate eased from 4.7% in August 2025 to 3.8% in August 2026 (preliminary) per BLS local area data.
Where treatment happens locally
The County of Summit ADM Board (1867 W. Market Street, Suite B2, Akron, OH 44313; 330-762-3500) is the system's funding hub: it plans, funds, monitors, and evaluates treatment, prevention, and support services for county residents with mental health or substance use disorders. Its provider directory lists the board-funded network, including CHC Addiction Services at 1867 W. Market Street in Akron, which offers addiction treatment and recovery support. In 2026 the board also celebrated the opening of the 16-bed Dr. Fred Frese Residential Center in Northfield, a residential stepdown facility.
For the full regional picture - detox, residential, outpatient, medication-assisted treatment - the SAMHSA treatment locator can be searched from any Akron ZIP code and filtered by level of care and payment type. Summit County Public Health also runs Project D.A.W.N., distributing naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips countywide; it distributed more than 9,245 naloxone kits in 2024.
Getting around Akron
Treatment works on a schedule, and rides matter. METRO RTA operates fixed routes across Summit County with a $1.25 general single-ride fare (up to two children age 5 and under ride free with a fare-paying adult); passes are available at the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center in downtown Akron or through the EZfare app. A weekday Northcoast Express (x61) run to Cleveland costs $5.00 each way. Ohio Medicaid members can also ask their plan about non-emergency medical transportation to covered appointments.
Paying for care
Ohio Medicaid covers substance use disorder services for eligible members - outpatient counseling, medication for opioid use disorder, and residential care when medically necessary - and Ohio expanded Medicaid in 2014. If you are uninsured, the SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) offers free, confidential referrals, and ADM Board-funded providers serve residents based on need.
Starting this week
- Emergencies: call 911. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 or complete . Calling is free - the referral service is paid for by treatment providers - and your insurance benefits can be checked before you commit to anything.
- Browse the ADM Board provider directory to see the board-funded network in Akron.
- Search findtreatment.gov from your Akron ZIP code, and ask METRO or your Medicaid plan about rides.
Summit County's overdose numbers have fallen for two straight years, but roughly two people a day still land in an emergency room. The system is funded and the buses run - the next step is one phone call.
Treatment by substance in Akron
Questions about rehab in Akron
How many overdose deaths happened in Summit County?
Summit County Public Health's 2024 data brief reported 101 accidental overdose fatalities as of November 2024, with the county medical examiner's preliminary count at 133 for the year; deaths averaged 197 per year over the five previous years. County officials later reported 155 deaths in 2024 and 110 in 2025, and the ADM Board maintains a weekly-updated overdose dashboard.
What does the ADM Board do in Akron?
The County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health (ADM) Board plans, funds, monitors, and evaluates treatment, prevention, and support services for Summit County residents experiencing mental health or substance use disorders. Its office is at 1867 W. Market Street, Suite B2, Akron, OH 44313, and the main phone number is 330-762-3500.
Does Ohio Medicaid cover addiction treatment in Akron?
Ohio Medicaid covers substance use disorder treatment for eligible members, including outpatient counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and residential care when medically necessary. Ohio expanded Medicaid in 2014, so many low-income adults qualify. Confirm your enrollment and covered services before booking.
How bad are overdoses in Akron's emergency rooms?
From January through December 2024, emergency rooms serving Summit County residents treated an estimated 739 drug overdoses - about 2.0 per day - according to Summit County Public Health's vital statistics data brief. Just over half of overdose victims came from Akron (55%), with the rest from the suburbs.
Is it safe to stop drinking or using benzodiazepines on my own?
No. Stopping alcohol or benzodiazepines abruptly after heavy, regular use can cause dangerous withdrawal and should be done with medical supervision. In an emergency, call 911; for a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.