Quick answer
Hamilton County recorded 270 overdose deaths in 2024, a 31% decrease from 2023 and less than half the 2017 peak of 570. The Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition runs countywide outreach, and several treatment agencies serve the city. Ohio Medicaid covers care. Here is how to start treatment in Cincinnati.
Last updated: Wed Oct 07 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Cincinnati is the seat of Hamilton County, on the Ohio River in the southwest corner of the state. The county has cut its overdose deaths roughly in half since the 2017 peak, and it runs one of the country's longest-standing local addiction-response coalitions. This guide covers the local numbers, who provides care, and how to pay for it.
What the local overdose data show
Hamilton County is home to about 838,418 people, and the city of Cincinnati has roughly 314,367. The Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition (HC ARC) reports 270 overdose deaths in 2024, a 31% decrease from 2023 and a 52% drop from the county's heroin-era peak of 570 deaths in 2017.
The decline has continued. County coroner data show 194 overdose deaths in 2025, about 30% fewer than the prior year and the lowest total in more than a decade. County health officials credit expanded naloxone distribution and treatment access, and they warn that as opioid deaths fall, alcohol and cocaine are becoming more prominent in treatment admissions.
The county's public health department also tracks which drugs appear in deaths. In its 2024 surveillance report, fentanyl was the drug most often present, followed by cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, and benzodiazepines.
Who provides treatment in Hamilton County
The Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board plans and funds public behavioral health services, and the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition coordinates the wider response. HC ARC brings together public health, law enforcement, hospitals, treatment providers, peer recovery specialists, faith groups, and local government across the county's 49 cities, villages, and townships. One of its signature programs is a Quick Response Team that follows up with people shortly after a nonfatal overdose and connects them to care.
Several treatment agencies serve Cincinnati. Among the county's listed providers are:
- Addiction Services Council - 2929 Vernon Place, (513) 281-7880
- Center for Addiction Treatment (CAT House) - 830 Ezzard Charles Drive, (513) 381-6672
- Central Community Health Board - 532 Maxwell Avenue, (513) 559-2000
These and other agencies offer assessment, withdrawal management, outpatient and intensive outpatient counseling, and medication for opioid use disorder. The county publishes a full list with addresses and phone numbers, and the SAMHSA locator lets you search from ZIP code 45202 by service type and payment option.
Paying for treatment
Ohio expanded Medicaid in 2014, and Ohio Medicaid covers withdrawal management, intensive outpatient treatment, and residential treatment delivered by OhioMHAS-certified providers. In Cincinnati, the median household income is about $52,909, and roughly 25.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The county's unemployment rate was 3.8% in December 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If you are insured, ask the program to verify your behavioral health benefit. If you are not, ask about sliding-scale fees or help applying for Medicaid.
How to start today
- In a medical emergency, call 911. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988. The statewide Ohio CareLine is 1-800-720-9616.
- 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.
- Call a county-listed provider, or search findtreatment.gov from ZIP code 45202 to compare programs by level of care.
- If you are uninsured, ask about sliding-scale fees or help applying for Ohio Medicaid.
Hamilton County has shown that sustained, coordinated effort saves lives - its death count is at the lowest level in more than a decade. If you are ready for help, the next step is a single call.
Treatment by substance in Cincinnati
Questions about rehab in Cincinnati
How many people die of drug overdose in Hamilton County?
The Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition reports 270 overdose deaths in 2024, a 31% decrease from 2023 and down from the county's peak of 570 in 2017. County coroner data show the number fell again in 2025.
Where can I get addiction treatment in Cincinnati?
Several agencies in the county's public network provide treatment, including the Addiction Services Council, the Center for Addiction Treatment, and Central Community Health Board. The county publishes a full list of treatment provider agencies with addresses and phone numbers.
What is the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition?
It is a coalition of public health, law enforcement, hospitals, treatment providers, peer specialists, faith groups, and local governments across Hamilton County's 49 cities, villages, and townships. It coordinates prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and overdose response.
Does Ohio Medicaid cover drug and alcohol treatment?
Yes. Ohio Medicaid covers withdrawal management, intensive outpatient treatment, and residential treatment delivered by OhioMHAS-certified providers. Eligibility rules change, so confirm your coverage with the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline before you commit.
Is it dangerous to stop opioids or alcohol suddenly?
Alcohol withdrawal after heavy use can be dangerous and should be medically supervised. Opioid withdrawal is rarely life-threatening on its own but is extremely uncomfortable. Call 911 if someone is unresponsive or struggling to breathe, and call or text 988 for a mental health crisis.