Quick answer
Benzodiazepines were involved in about 8% of Ohio's unintentional overdose deaths in 2023, and 73% of those deaths also involved fentanyl. If you take Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, or Valium most days and want to stop, the safe path is a planned, medically supervised taper. Springfield has detox and outpatient options.
If you take alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), or diazepam (Valium) most days, you already know how tightly they hold a routine in place. What matters more is that stopping them is a medical decision, not a test of willpower. Clark County watches benzodiazepines closely because they so often travel with opioids. This page covers why a supervised taper matters and where to find one around Springfield.
Can you just stop benzodiazepines on your own?
It depends on how long and how much you have taken them, but the short answer for regular daily use is no - not without a plan. The FDA's updated boxed warning states that abrupt discontinuation or tapering too fast can cause withdrawal reactions that include seizures. If you have taken a low dose briefly, a clinician may still taper you gently; if you have taken a high dose for months or years, that same clinician will go slower. It depends on your dose, your history, and how your body responds - which is exactly why a provider, not a calendar, should set the pace.
Why benzodiazepine withdrawal needs medical supervision
Benzodiazepines calm the nervous system, and the body adapts to them within weeks of regular use. Remove them too quickly and the rebound can be severe. That is one reason physical dependence is not the same as addiction - a person can be dependent on a prescribed benzodiazepine without having a substance use disorder, and still need a careful taper.
The risk climbs sharply when benzodiazepines are mixed with opioids or alcohol. NIDA notes that the combination can slow or stop breathing, and it is a major driver of overdose deaths. If you take both, treatment should address every substance in the picture.
How a supervised taper works near Springfield
The ASAM patient guide to tapering benzodiazepines describes a taper as a gradual, planned dose reduction that a clinician adjusts based on how you respond. FDA guidance anticipates pausing a taper or returning to a previous dose when symptoms spike, then resuming more slowly. Difficulty during a taper is a signal to revise the plan with a provider, not a reason to quit the medication cold.
Within 30 miles of central Springfield, the SAMHSA treatment locator lists 45 substance use treatment facilities (pull dated October 23, 2026):
- 25 offering detoxification (withdrawal management)
- 11 offering residential care and 42 offering outpatient care
- 31 providing intensive outpatient programs
- 44 report accepting Medicaid, and 18 offer a sliding fee scale
SAMHSA's detoxification guidance notes that patients with severe withdrawal or a history of seizures should be managed in a hospital setting. If someone has a seizure, becomes severely confused, or is a danger to themselves, call 911.
What the local data show
The Clark County Combined Health District counted 27 overdose deaths in Clark County in 2024, down from 52 in 2023 - the lowest since its fatality review began in 2015, and down from a peak of 105 in 2017. More than six in ten of those deaths happened at home.
Statewide, the Ohio Department of Health found benzodiazepines were involved in about 8% of unintentional drug overdose deaths in Ohio in 2023, and 73% of those deaths also involved fentanyl. Anyone who buys benzodiazepines without a prescription, or takes pills of unknown origin, should assume they may contain fentanyl.
Where to get help in Springfield
The Mental Health & Recovery Board of Clark, Greene & Madison Counties (1055 East High Street, Springfield, OH 45505; 937-322-0648) funds public behavioral health services across the three counties, with a crisis line at 937-399-9500. McKinley Hall at 2624 Lexington Avenue (phone 937-328-5300) offers outpatient care and medication-assisted treatment, with walk-in assessments Monday through Thursday between 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Free naloxone is available through the Clark County health district's Narcan stands, including at 529 East Home Road, and through Naloxone.Ohio.gov. Carry it if there is any chance opioids are in the picture.
Paying for benzodiazepine treatment
Ohio Medicaid covers medically necessary substance use disorder treatment, including withdrawal management, outpatient care, and residential treatment, when delivered by certified providers. Ohio expanded Medicaid in 2014, so many low-income adults qualify. If you are uninsured, ask the Clark, Greene and Madison board about payment help before ruling a program out.
How to start today
- If this is a medical emergency, call 911. For a crisis, call or text 988, or call the Clark County crisis line at 937-399-9500.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through detox and taper options 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.
- Search findtreatment.gov from ZIP code 45505 and filter for detoxification.
- If you take a prescribed benzodiazepine and want to stop, bring your medication list to your prescriber or a primary care doctor and ask for a taper plan.
Benzodiazepine withdrawal is safest as a medical plan, and Springfield has the detox capacity and crisis support to help you build one. The point is not to stop tomorrow - it is to stop safely.
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any facility named above. Other Benzodiazepine treatment in Ohio: Benzodiazepine detox in Akron, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Canton, Ohio, Benzodiazepine detox in Chillicothe, 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 Steubenville, Ohio.
Last updated: Fri Oct 23 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
Why is benzodiazepine withdrawal dangerous?
The FDA's boxed warning on benzodiazepines states that abrupt discontinuation or tapering too fast can cause withdrawal reactions that include seizures. After regular use, the body adapts within weeks, and stopping suddenly can be severe or life-threatening. Withdrawal should be managed with medical supervision.
How do I safely stop taking Xanax or Klonopin?
With a plan, not alone. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) describes a taper as a gradual, planned dose reduction that a clinician adjusts based on how you respond. Bring your medication list to your prescriber or a primary care doctor and ask for a taper plan.
What treatment is available near Springfield for benzodiazepine dependence?
Within 30 miles of central Springfield, the SAMHSA locator lists 45 substance use treatment facilities, including 25 offering detoxification, 11 offering residential care, and 31 offering intensive outpatient programs, in a pull dated October 23, 2026.
Do benzodiazepines and opioids interact dangerously?
Yes. NIDA notes that combining benzodiazepines with opioids can slow or stop breathing, and it is a major driver of overdose deaths. If you use both, treatment should address every substance in the picture, not just one.
What should I do in an emergency?
If someone has a seizure, becomes severely confused, or is a danger to themselves or others, call 911. If someone is unresponsive or breathing slowly, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.