Opioid Treatment and MAT in Columbus, OH
Franklin County's overdose deaths fell sharply in 2024, but opioids still contributed to most of them. Columbus also has a dense medication-assisted treatment network and a public ADAMH board that funds care on a sliding fee scale. This page explains each piece and how to access it.
How bad the opioid problem is here
Franklin County's Overdose Fatality Review reports 467 county residents died of overdose in 2024, down from 688 in 2023, and that opioids contributed to 370 of those deaths. The same report flagged disparities: Black male residents died at a rate of 83.6 per 100,000, compared with 44.9 for white residents.
This is part of a broader statewide trend: Ohio's overdose deaths have fallen for several years, even as the substances involved shift toward fentanyl and stimulants.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) near Columbus
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 Columbus, the SAMHSA locator lists:
- 74 treatment facilities total
- 13 federally certified opioid treatment programs
- 50 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine
- 54 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone treatment
The ADAMH Board of Franklin County funds more than 30 nonprofit providers that include medication for opioid use disorder, recovery housing, and peer support. Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm current options on the locator.
Naloxone and harm reduction in Columbus
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 ADAMH adult addiction services at 614-276-2273, or search findtreatment.gov with ZIP code 43215 and filter for medication-assisted treatment.
- Ask any program whether they can start buprenorphine quickly - same-week starts are common in Columbus.
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.