Opioid Treatment and MAT in Cleveland, OH
Cuyahoga County's overdose deaths fell by about a third in 2024, but fentanyl was still involved in most of them. Cleveland also has a large medication-assisted treatment network funded in part through the ADAMHS Board. This page explains each piece and how to access it.
How bad the opioid problem is here
The Cuyahoga County Overdose Fatality Review reports 419 overdose deaths in 2024, a 34% decrease from 635 in 2023, and that fentanyl was involved in 272 of the 2024 deaths. Local reporting has also described continued declines in fentanyl deaths into later periods - confirm the latest figures with the medical examiner or board of health before relying on any single year-over-year claim.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) near Cleveland
Medication-assisted treatment - also called medications for opioid use disorder, or MOUD - uses methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone alongside counseling. Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows people treated with methadone or buprenorphine are less likely to die or to have an overdose than those who go without treatment.
Within 30 miles of downtown Cleveland, the SAMHSA locator lists:
- 87 treatment facilities total
- 10 federally certified opioid treatment programs
- 53 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine
- 58 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone treatment
The ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County plans and funds the public network and publishes a provider guide. Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm current options on the locator.
Naloxone and harm reduction in Cleveland
Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose and cannot hurt someone who is not overdosing. Ohio distributes free naloxone through Naloxone.Ohio.gov and community partners, and it is sold over the counter at many pharmacies.
If someone is unresponsive, breathing slowly, or has pinpoint pupils, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it.
Paying for opioid treatment
Ohio Medicaid covers medically necessary substance use disorder treatment - withdrawal management, outpatient and intensive outpatient care, and residential treatment - when delivered by OhioMHAS-certified providers. Most members enroll through one of Ohio's managed care plans: AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Buckeye Community Health Plan, CareSource Ohio, Humana Healthy Horizons in Ohio, Molina Healthcare of Ohio, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio. Confirm your plan and network before you commit. If you are uninsured, county ADAMH / ADAMHS boards and the statewide Ohio CareLine at 1-800-720-9616 can help with sliding-fee and crisis options.
How to start today
- If someone is overdosing, call 911 now and give naloxone. For a crisis, call or text 988.
- 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 the ADAMHS Board at 216-623-6888, or search findtreatment.gov with ZIP code 44113 and filter for medication-assisted treatment.
- Ask any program whether they can start buprenorphine quickly.
Opioid use disorder is a treatable medical condition, and the medications that treat it are covered here. The hardest part is usually the first call, not the treatment itself.