Quick answer
Franklin County recorded 467 overdose deaths in 2024, down from 688 in 2023, and opioids contributed to 370 of them. The ADAMH Board of Franklin County funds a network of more than 30 providers with a sliding fee scale, and Ohio Medicaid covers treatment. Here is how to start care in Columbus.
Last updated: Wed Oct 07 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Columbus is Ohio's capital and largest city, and Franklin County is the state's most populous county. Its overdose death count fell by nearly a third in 2024, and a well-funded public network of nonprofit providers covers the city. This guide covers the local numbers, who provides treatment, and how to pay for it.
What the local overdose data show
Franklin County has about 1,361,536 residents, and the city of Columbus has roughly 938,396. The county's Overdose Fatality Review, run by Franklin County Public Health, reports 467 county residents died of overdose in 2024, down sharply from 688 in 2023, and that opioids contributed to 370 of those deaths.
The same report shows how uneven the toll is. In 2024, Black male residents of Franklin County died at a rate of 83.6 per 100,000 people, compared with 44.9 for white residents. The review flagged that disparity, along with deaths among older adults and people who use more than one substance, as a focus for its prevention work.
This is part of a broader statewide trend: Ohio's overdose deaths have fallen for several years running, even as the substances involved shift toward fentanyl and stimulants.
Who provides treatment in Franklin County
The ADAMH Board of Franklin County plans and funds the public behavioral health system, contracting with more than 30 nonprofit providers across the county. Its network includes outpatient and intensive outpatient programs, medication for opioid use disorder, recovery housing, peer support, and crisis care.
A few things that make the local system easier to navigate:
- ADAMH uses a sliding fee scale, so any Franklin County resident can receive services charged on the basis of income and circumstance.
- Its Crisis Benefits Plan is time-limited and covers a select list of services for people in a mental health or substance use crisis, without regard to county of residence.
- For adult addiction services, ADAMH's line is 614.276.2273; youth addiction services can be reached at 614.722.1800.
If you are not sure where to start, the statewide Ohio CareLine at 1-800-720-9616 is free, confidential, and staffed around the clock, and the SAMHSA locator lets you search from ZIP code 43215 by service type and payment option.
Levels of care to expect
Care is matched to the person. Options in the Columbus area range from medically supervised withdrawal (detox) and residential treatment to intensive outpatient programs, individual and group counseling, medication for opioid use disorder, and ongoing recovery supports. Most people start with an assessment, which any ADAMH network provider can perform.
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 Columbus, the median household income is about $66,082, and roughly 18.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The county's unemployment rate was 3.6% in December 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If you have private insurance, ask the program about your plan's behavioral health benefit; if you are uninsured, ask about the ADAMH sliding scale or a Medicaid application.
How to start today
- In a medical emergency, call 911. For a mental health or substance use 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.
- Contact the ADAMH Board or search findtreatment.gov from ZIP code 43215 to compare programs by level of care.
- If you are uninsured, ask about sliding-scale fees or help applying for Ohio Medicaid.
Franklin County's numbers are moving in the right direction, but hundreds of families still lose someone each year. The first call is the one that starts to change that.
Treatment by substance in Columbus
Questions about rehab in Columbus
How many people die of drug overdose in Franklin County?
Franklin County's Overdose Fatality Review reports 467 overdose deaths among county residents in 2024, down sharply from 688 in 2023. Opioids contributed to 370 of the 2024 deaths.
Who do I call for addiction help in Columbus?
The ADAMH Board of Franklin County funds more than 30 nonprofit behavioral health providers. Its adult addiction services line is 614.276.2273, and the 24/7 statewide Ohio CareLine is 1-800-720-9616. For a crisis, call or text 988.
Can I get treatment if I don't have insurance?
ADAMH providers use a sliding fee scale, so any Franklin County resident can receive services charged on the basis of income and circumstance. ADAMH also operates a Crisis Benefits Plan that covers a select set of crisis services regardless of county of residence.
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 opioid withdrawal dangerous?
Opioid withdrawal is very uncomfortable but rarely life-threatening on its own. Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal, by contrast, can be dangerous and should be managed with medical supervision. Call 911 if someone is unresponsive or struggling to breathe.