Expert Insights
Summit County experienced 1,100 emergency room visits due to drug-related overdose in 2020. And between 2020 and 2021, county morticians recorded a 140% increase in drug-related deaths.
Whatever Akron officials have been doing to prevent drug tragedies, it clearly hasn’t been working. But some new efforts are on the scene that could provide new hope. The Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADM) Board has increased access to assistance with a 24/7 addiction treatment call line.
Plus, the ADM board is thinking outside the box for solutions – like shoes. Their shoe give-away program helps remove financial stress, which often triggers drug use. These types of practical solutions can make a huge impact on the community.
How We Rank Listings
Our directory organizes Akron treatment providers to help you compare real options quickly, not to promote any single facility. Listings draw on verified program data, including levels of care offered, accepted payment types, accreditation status, and the specialty populations a provider serves.
We prioritize facilities that hold recognized accreditation from the Joint Commission or CARF, maintain appropriate state licensure through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), and clearly disclose the services they provide.
Providers that accept a broad mix of payment options, including Medicaid and self-pay, and those offering specialized tracks appear alongside general programs so you can weigh the metrics that fit your situation.
- Accreditation and state licensure verified where available
- Range of care levels, from medical detox through outpatient
- Accepted insurance and payment options, including Medicaid
- Specialty programming for specific populations
Rehab in Akron: What to Know
Akron is the seat of Summit County and the anchor of a metro area of roughly 700,000 residents in northeast Ohio. The directory currently lists 33 treatment facilities in and around the city, spanning medical detox, residential care, and outpatient services.
When you are comparing addiction treatment options locally can also browse the full Ohio rehab directory to see how Akron fits within the wider state system.
Behavioral health services in Summit County are coordinated by the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADM) Board, which funds and oversees a network of local provider agencies.
Among the most established are CHC Addiction Services on East Market Street, Portage Path Behavioral Health, and the ADM Crisis Center operated by Oriana House, which houses a 24-hour detox unit in the heart of Akron. Together, these agencies form the backbone of publicly funded treatment access for city residents.
Fentanyl continues to drive the local overdose picture. Statewide, fentanyl was involved in 79% of Ohio overdose deaths in 2024, and Summit County officials have repeatedly pointed to fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine as the substances behind fatal overdoses in the county.
Understanding fentanyl overdose risk is central to why local providers emphasize rapid access to detox and medication-assisted treatment.
There is meaningful progress to note. Summit County recorded 176 overdose deaths in 2024, a sharp decline from 203 in 2023, mirroring a statewide drop that public health officials attribute in part to expanded naloxone distribution and treatment access.
That said, the county still counts dozens of nonfatal overdoses every month, and demand for detox and residential beds remains high.
Cost of Rehab in Akron
The cost of treatment in Akron varies widely depending on the level of care, program length, and whether you use insurance. There is no single price, but statewide averages give a useful benchmark for what full programs can run before insurance is applied.
Because published cost data is reported at the state level rather than the city level, the figures below reflect Ohio averages; Akron costs generally track close to these numbers.
These figures represent the cost of a full program without insurance, which is rarely what a patient actually pays. Most people use some combination of insurance, Medicaid, sliding-scale fees, or financial assistance to bring costs down.
Before ruling out any level of care on price alone, it is worth confirming your coverage, since insurance often makes higher levels of care more affordable than they first appear. Several factors shape the final price:
How to Pay for Rehab in Akron
Across the 33 facilities listed in Akron, payment options are broad. Most accept self-payment and private insurance, and a strong majority participate in Medicaid, which is a critical access point in Summit County. The grid below shows how many local facilities accept each payment type.
Understanding how each of these works can help you plan for care without letting cost become a barrier to starting.
Medicare
Fourteen Akron facilities accept Medicare, which covers addiction treatment for eligible adults 65 and older and for some younger residents with qualifying disabilities. Coverage typically includes inpatient care, outpatient services, and medications used in treatment, though specific benefits depend on the plan.
If you are unsure what your plan includes, it helps to review how insurance covers addiction treatment before choosing a provider.
Medicaid
Twenty of the 33 listed facilities accept Ohio Medicaid, making it one of the most widely accepted forms of coverage in Akron. Ohio Medicaid covers a full continuum of substance use services, including detox, residential treatment, outpatient counseling, and medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders.
Uninsured residents may qualify for Medicaid based on income, and local providers such as the ADM Crisis Center can help with enrollment during intake.
Military Benefits
Nine Akron facilities accept TRICARE, the health program for active-duty service members, retirees, and their families. Veterans also have access to substance use care through the Akron VA Clinic, which offers outpatient counseling, group therapy, and medication matched to individual needs.
Insurance and Private Pay
Private insurance is accepted at 26 Akron facilities, and 31 accept self-payment. Under federal parity law, most private plans must cover substance use treatment comparably to other medical care, though deductibles, copays, and network rules vary. Confirming coverage in advance prevents surprise bills and helps you focus on facilities that are in-network.
Other Low-Cost Options
For residents without adequate coverage, 11 Akron facilities offer sliding-scale fees, and 11 provide financial assistance, adjusting costs based on income and ability to pay. Six facilities offer financing arrangements. These options make treatment reachable for people who fall between full self-pay and Medicaid eligibility.
Free Treatment Programs
Two Akron facilities offer free treatment, and publicly funded services through the ADM Board network extend access further for residents who cannot afford care. People facing cost barriers may also be able to use rehab scholarships to help cover treatment. No one in Summit County should be turned away from starting care because of an inability to pay.
Levels of Care Available in Akron
Akron offers a full continuum of care, with 16 facilities providing medical detox, 15 offering inpatient rehab, 31 delivering outpatient services, and 17 equipped to treat co-occurring mental health conditions alongside substance use.
Medical detox is often the first step for people physically dependent on alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines. Akron’s supervised detox options, including the 24-hour unit at the ADM Crisis Center, manage withdrawal safely under medical oversight before a person transitions into ongoing treatment.
For those who need structure and round-the-clock support, residential treatment provides a live-in setting with intensive therapy and medical care. Inpatient programs suit people with severe use, unstable home environments, or prior relapses.
Most local capacity is in outpatient rehab and intensive outpatient programs, which let people live at home while attending scheduled treatment. This flexibility works well for those with work, school, or family responsibilities and for people stepping down from higher levels of care.
Because so many overdoses in Summit County involve opioids, medication-assisted treatment is a core offering at several Akron providers, combining medications like buprenorphine or methadone with counseling and behavioral therapy.
Facilities that treat co-occurring disorders can also address co-occurring depression and other mental health conditions, which frequently accompany substance use. After structured treatment ends, continuing care and sober living support help protect early recovery.
Specialty Programs in Akron
Many Akron facilities tailor treatment to specific populations, recognizing that recovery needs differ by age, gender, background, and life circumstance. The programs below reflect the specialty tracks most represented among local providers.
Alcohol remains the most commonly treated substance locally, with 23 facilities offering programs for alcohol use disorder. Given the fentanyl-driven overdose crisis, 15 facilities also provide dedicated care for opioid use disorder, often incorporating medication-assisted treatment.
Gender-specific programming is widely available, with 18 women’s and 18 men’s tracks, and 18 programs serve young adults, whose treatment needs often differ from those of older patients. For former service members, three facilities offer rehab resources for veterans and military, and two provide LGBTQ+ affirming addiction care.
Free and Low-Cost Rehab Resources in Akron
Beyond licensed treatment facilities, Akron and Summit County offer a network of crisis lines, public health services, and harm reduction programs at no cost. The resources below can connect residents to immediate help, naloxone, and treatment referrals regardless of ability to pay.
Crisis Lines
If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available around the clock. When introducing these helplines, it is worth noting that trained counselors can also connect callers to local crisis support and treatment resources.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
https://988lifeline.org/
Call or text 988, available 24/7 for anyone in emotional distress or crisis. - ADM Crisis Center (Summit County)
https://admboard.org/
330-996-7730, 24-hour crisis services and detox in Akron. - ADM Addiction Helpline
https://admboard.org/provider-directory/
330-940-1133, for scheduling addiction assessments and appointments. - United Way of Summit County 2-1-1
https://www.211summit.org/
Dial 211 for 24/7 connection to local health and human services.
County Health Department
Summit County Public Health operates overdose prevention and harm reduction services out of its Fairway Center at 1867 W. Market Street, Akron. Residents can call 330-923-4891 for information about clinic hours and services.
Harm Reduction
- Project DAWN
https://odh.ohio.gov/
Free naloxone (Narcan) kits and overdose-reversal training through Summit County Public Health, available at clinic sites and 24/7 vending machines across the county. In 2024, the county distributed 9,247 naloxone kits through the program. - Summit Safe Syringe Exchange
https://www.scph.org/counseling
Anonymous access to sterile syringes, HIV and hepatitis C testing, wound care, fentanyl test strips, and treatment referrals. Clinics run weekly at the Fairway Center and at 1400 S. Arlington Street.
Veterans and Military
The Akron VA Clinic at 55 West Waterloo Road (330-724-7715) provides outpatient substance use and mental health care for eligible veterans, matching services such as counseling, group therapy, and medication to individual needs. Same-day help for mental health concerns is available, and veterans may qualify even without enrolling in VA health care.
Government and Medicaid
Uninsured residents may qualify for Ohio Medicaid, which covers the full range of substance use treatment. The ADM Crisis Center and county provider agencies can assist with enrollment and connect callers to publicly funded care.
Drug and Alcohol Use Statistics in Akron
Summit County saw significant progress against overdose deaths in 2024, though the toll remains serious. The county recorded 176 overdose deaths in 2024, a 39% decrease from the 203 deaths in 2023, part of a broader statewide decline in fentanyl-related deaths.
Fentanyl still drives the crisis, and understanding opioid use disorder remains central to local prevention and treatment efforts. The figures below capture the most recent county and state data.
The decline mirrors a statewide trend: Ohio saw one of the largest drops in opioid overdose deaths in the nation after the mid-2023 national peak, which public health researchers link to both a changing drug supply and expanded naloxone and treatment access.
Local officials caution that progress is fragile and continue to prioritize harm reduction and rapid treatment entry. For national context, see broader substance use statistics.
Resources
- Addictions.com. (2024). Alcohol & Drug Rehabs in Ohio. https://www.addictions.com/rehabs/ohio/
- County of Summit. (2025). Resolution No. 2025-221. https://council.summitoh.net/files-legislation/35061/file/2025-221.pdf
- Summit County Public Health. (2024). Drug Overdoses in Summit County, 2024 Data Brief. https://www.scph.org/
- County of Summit ADM Board. (2026). Get Help and Provider Directory. https://admboard.org/
- Summit County Public Health. (2025). Project DAWN (NARCAN) and Summit Safe Syringe Exchange. https://www.scph.org/counseling/project-dawn-narcan
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2026). Akron VA Clinic, VA Northeast Ohio Health Care. https://www.va.gov/northeast-ohio-health-care/locations/akron-va-clinic/
- Ohio Department of Health. (2024). 2023 Ohio Unintentional Drug Overdose Annual Report. https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/OHIOGOVERNOR/2024/10/30/file_attachments/3052169/2023+Unintentional+Drug+Overdose+Annual+Report_FINAL.pdf
