Quick answer
Stopping benzodiazepines suddenly can cause seizures, so treatment in Chillicothe starts with a doctor-supervised taper, not an abrupt quit. Ross County residents can access outpatient counseling, residential beds, and Medicaid-funded care locally. Call (800) 653-9376 to find a program that tapers safely.
Benzodiazepine treatment in Chillicothe begins with a taper, not a quit date. Ross County's own overdose record makes the stakes clear: state health data counted 34 county overdose deaths in 2024, down from 49 the year before, and three-quarters of the benzodiazepine-involved deaths in Ohio that year also involved fentanyl. Two community clinics and one residential provider operate locally to help you stop these medications the safe way.
Why is benzo withdrawal treated differently than other drugs?
It depends on how long you have been taking benzodiazepines and at what dose, but the rule is the same either way: never stop abruptly. Withdrawal from these medications can cause seizures, hallucinations, and a sudden spike in anxiety and insomnia that feels worse than what you started with. Clinical guidance recommends tapering slowly - typically 5 to 10 percent of your dose every 2 to 4 weeks - under a prescriber's eye. If you have a long history of use, the taper runs longer. If your use is recent, it may go faster, but medical oversight stays non-negotiable.
Stopping suddenly can be dangerous and requires medical supervision - call 911 if someone is seizing, or 988 for a crisis.
What treatment looks like in Ross County
- Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center operates outpatient clinics in Chillicothe - the Martha Cottrill Clinic at 4449 OH-159 and the Floyd Simantel Clinic at 312 E 2nd Street - where licensed counselors treat substance use disorders, including dependence on sedatives. Its 36-bed residential program for men at the Rulon Center (400 Chamber Drive) and a 12-bed women's program in Greenfield treat alcohol and other substance use disorders, including benzo dependence alongside other drugs.
- Paint Valley ADAMH Board (394 Chestnut Street, Chillicothe; 740-773-2383) funds the county's behavioral health network. If cost or insurance is the barrier, start here - the board runs services for Ross, Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, and Pike counties.
- Hopewell Health Centers at 1049 Western Avenue combine primary care with behavioral health, useful when benzodiazepine dependence comes with depression, trauma, or chronic pain.
- For medically supervised detox or a program outside this network, the SAMHSA treatment locator filters by level of care from any Chillicothe ZIP code.
Why benzodiazepines show up in Ohio's overdose data
The Ohio Department of Health's 2024 overdose report counted 251 unintentional overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines in 2024, a 33% drop from 2023. The report also found that 75% of those benzodiazepine deaths also involved fentanyl - the single most important fact about how these drugs interact. Counterfeit pills sold as Xanax or other benzodiazepines frequently contain fentanyl instead, which is why the risk of stopping abruptly and buying pills off the street are both real dangers.
The FDA's boxed warning on co-prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines exists for the same reason: taken together, both drug families slow breathing, and the combination has killed people across Ohio's fentanyl era.
Paying for care
Ohio Medicaid covers counseling, intensive outpatient treatment, residential care, and withdrawal management for eligible members. Uninsured Ross County residents can contact the Paint Valley ADAMH Board about services based on need. If neither works, call (800) 653-9376 and the referral service will check your benefits before you commit to anything.
Starting this week
- If someone is seizing, unresponsive, or in overdose - call 911 immediately. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988 (or the local SPVMH crisis line at 740-773-4357, which answers 988 calls).
- Do not skip your dose. Tapering starts from where you are, not from zero - talk to a prescriber before changing anything.
- Call (800) 653-9376 or complete . Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers, and your benefits can be checked first.
- Bring your current pill bottles to the first appointment - prescribers need to see the actual doses to build a taper schedule.
Ross County lost 49 people to overdose in 2023 and 34 in 2024. A supervised taper, a residential bed, or a counseling slot is available within miles of downtown - the next step is one call.
Other Benzodiazepine treatment in Ohio: Benzodiazepine detox in Akron, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Canton, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Cincinnati, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Cleveland, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Columbus, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Dayton, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Hamilton, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Kettering, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Lorain, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Portsmouth, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Springfield, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Steubenville, Ohio.
Last updated: Fri Oct 23 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I just stop taking benzodiazepines on my own?
Because withdrawal can be dangerous. The ASAM benzodiazepine tapering guideline recommends gradual dose reductions - generally 5 to 10 percent every 2 to 4 weeks, and never more than 25 percent in two weeks - because stopping abruptly can trigger seizures, confusion, and severe rebound anxiety. Any plan to quit should run through a prescriber.
Is there a medication that treats benzodiazepine addiction?
No FDA-approved medication exists specifically for benzodiazepine use disorder, which is why treatment centers on a supervised taper plus behavioral therapy. You may see claims to the contrary online; there is no approved equivalent of Suboxone or methadone for benzodiazepines.
How dangerous is mixing benzodiazepines with other drugs?
Very. The FDA has warned that combining benzodiazepines with opioids, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants can slow breathing enough to cause death. In Ohio in 2024, 75% of benzodiazepine-involved overdose deaths also involved fentanyl, per the state's overdose report.
Does Ohio Medicaid cover benzodiazepine treatment in Ross County?
Ohio Medicaid covers outpatient counseling, intensive outpatient programs, residential care, and withdrawal management for eligible members. In Ross County, board-funded providers accept Medicaid and offer services based on need for the uninsured. Confirm coverage with your plan before booking.
What happens at a medical detox for benzodiazepines?
A supervised taper, not cold turkey. Clinics adjust your dose down step by step while watching for withdrawal signs, sometimes substituting a longer-acting benzodiazepine first. Because seizures are the main risk, detox happens under medical observation rather than at home.