Top 35 Alcohol & Drug Rehab Centers in Cincinnati, OH & Free Treatment Resources

Like most of the country, Ohio has been experiencing an uptick in overdoses and addiction-related problems. Metro areas like Cincinnati are more at risk, with its large population and abundance of access to legal and illegal substances. If you or someone you know is seeking addiction treatment, one of the 88 accredited alcohol and drug rehab centers in Cincinnati can help.¹ Most facilities in Cincinnati accept Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, and many offer low-cost or free options.

Here are some recent statistics regarding alcohol and drug use in Cincinnati:^1,2,3

Cincinnati experienced 50% more heroin overdoses in 2017 than 2015, with a total of 529 overdoses in 2017.

In 2018, 83.7% of overdoses were due to any type of opiate use, with 72.6% of ODs resulting from the intentional or accidental use of fentanyl.

Overdoses increased by 7% in 2019 to a total of 4,028 accidental deaths due to drug use.

Depending on the type of program you’re looking for, it can range from low-cost or even free to somewhat costly. If you have health insurance coverage, it can likely help cover most, if not all, of your care costs. Among the accredited drug and alcohol rehab centers in Cincinnati, there are:⁴

55 that accept private health insurance coverage

30 that take the military insurance TRICARE

37 that take state insurance other than Medicare or Medicaid

61 Medicaid facilities

With dozens of options for every income bracket, you’re sure to find the right rehab or detox centers in Cincinnati. Call the helpline at 800-681-1058 (Who Answers?) if you need help finding addiction treatment centers.

Cost doesn’t have to be a barrier to finding high-quality drug and alcohol rehab in Cincinnati. There are plenty of low-cost and free options at state-funded facilities throughout the city and state. These addiction treatment centers receive government funding, which allows them to offer care at a fraction of the price that private facilities do.

If you are uninsured and don’t have access to money to pay for care, state and federal programs can help. Agencies like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provide funding such as block grants to give local agencies the chance to help people who can’t afford treatment. You may be able to qualify for health insurance coverage such as state insurance or Medicaid—or Medicare if you’re older or have a disability.

Choose a Program that Offers Payment Plans: Payment plans split up the cost of care over some time, usually requiring monthly payments. A credit check and/or a down payment may be associated with this type of contract before treatment can begin. Reach out to your chosen facility to find out if it offers any type of in-house financing or works with a third-party loan group.

Apply for a Scholarship: If you find yourself without any other way to pay, you may qualify for a scholarship through your chosen facility. Some organizations have internal scholarships funded by annual fundraising activities. Other groups have forms of financial assistance, such as the SAMHSA block grant, to facilitate scholarships. The best way to find out if the program you want to enter has any scholarships available is to check the website or call and ask.

Find a Sliding-Scale Program: Sliding-fee scales are great for low-income people struggling with addiction. The cost of care is based on annual income. Many state-run programs, such as community support centers with addiction services, offer a sliding scale fee to care.

The biggest difference between inpatient and outpatient care is the ability to return to your home at night. If you want to live in a drug or alcohol rehab in Cincinnati, inpatient can offer a consistent schedule and access to intensive therapies that can cement your addiction recovery efforts.

However, if you need to spend time at home, at work, or raising kids, you may benefit from outpatient programming. This could also save you money. Read on to learn the key components and variations of both types of rehab.

Medical Detox

If you need medical detox before entering residential treatment, you may be able to find a facility that offers both programs so you can avoid moving during your care. A detox will help you manage uncomfortable and potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Inpatient

Inpatient addiction treatment can be a godsend for someone who feels crushed under the burden of daily life, compounded with constant cravings to use that are often triggered by the sheer stress of living. If this is a factor in your addiction, perhaps your best bet would be to take a break from your normal day-to-day activities and spend 30 to 90 days in residential rehab.

Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs)

Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) or day programs are meant to provide the highest level of care in an outpatient setting. They offer medically-supervised treatments, drug education, group and individual therapy, and case management.

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)

The next step up in care would be an intensive outpatient program (IOP), which would require several hours of participation several days a week. These programs tend to be more flexible, so you can participate in mornings or evenings as best fits your schedule.

Standard Outpatient

Standard outpatient is the least intensive form of rehabilitation. It requires at least nine hours of treatment per week, either in the center or using telehealth services.⁵

Aftercare

When you near the end of your program, you’ll work with your treatment team to create an aftercare plan that will help you stay sober even when transitioning back into your everyday life.

You can use many evidence-based addiction treatment models in rehab to achieve your sobriety goals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps you re-learn how to process negative stimuli such as hurtful self-talk. This can involve journaling, guided discovery, and exposure therapy. The goal is to cognitively restructure your thought processes to give yourself a positive mindset during stressful situations.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavioral therapy, also known as DBT, is used to help treat personality disorders by raising relational awareness and tolerance to stress and negative feelings. DBT can be an individual or group therapy process.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

If you’re resistant to the idea of attending rehab services, Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) can help inspire you to engage in your recovery actively. This type of therapy is designed to invoke inner motivation, helping you succeed in your current rehab program and achieve lifelong recovery.

Contingency Management

Contingency management is another type of motivational therapy that provides rewards for participating in rehab programs. These rewards can include small favors, gift cards, or entry into a contest for a high-value reward such as a TV or vacation.

Group Therapy

If you enjoy conversation, group therapy can help you recover from addiction by providing a sense of community. This type of programming encourages fellowship—participants share their stories and give each other the chance to relate and learn communication skills. You can also observe how others are affected by addiction, giving you insight and motivation to improve certain areas in your life. Group therapy can include evidence-based techniques such as DBT.

Family Therapy

Family-focused therapy programs can help everyone in your family circle recover their trust and rebuild their relationships with each other. It often takes place in a group setting where family members have the chance to share their experiences in a space that nurtures openness and honesty. Family therapy can also take place via telephone or video conference. Telehealth allows one or more family members to engage in talk therapy from home.

If you want to enjoy a slower pace while you seek treatment, look for drug or alcohol rehabs in Ohio to provide the serene environment you need. This city is home to all types of entertainment—it features sports stadiums, art galleries, concert halls, and outdoor recreational areas, in addition to lovely bench-lined walking paths.

If you’re considering moving to Cincinnati to seek treatment for alcohol or drug abuse, research the area thoroughly. The Hyde Park neighborhood is quiet and family-friendly, with the relaxed midwest feel you may be looking for and plenty of dining and shopping to keep you out and about.

Have fun in the big city when you stay in the downtown area. Temporary housing options such as motels and hotels offer easy access to all the best attractions in town, such as the Cincinnati Museum Center, the Over-the-Rhein district, and the famed Ohio Riverboat Cruise.

The Riverfront area is an excellent idea if you want to explore the natural beauty that Queen City has to offer. Here you can spend your free time biking on natural paths, exploring gardens, and touring the city’s fountain installations. Sports fans can enjoy hockey, baseball, soccer, and football.

Laws and bills in Ohio have been passed to help combat the impact of drug use on the community. These bills are intended to protect people suffering from addiction from prosecution for their disease. They give law enforcement officials, first responders, and medical staff access to overdose medication to prevent drug fatalities. Finally, they prevent the excessive prescribing of harmful medications such as opiates.

Ohio Good Samaritan Law: The Good Samaritan law offers legal protection to people who call 911 for emergency services.11 If you witness or experience a drug overdose, call 911 and don’t worry about being prosecuted for any drugs and paraphernalia on your person. You can avoid fines and jail time as long as you don’t impede first responders and do submit to program guidelines after the event.

Ohio Opiate Prescription Limitation Law: Opiate prescription limitation laws have been passed to prohibit the long-term provision of substances containing opiates.12 These laws also create more of a focus on drug education for those who need pain medications.

Casey’s Law: Casey’s Law allows family members of someone struggling with addiction to commit their loved one to a temporary rehab program involuntarily.¹³

Driver Intervention Program (DIP): Ohioans who drink or use drugs and drive can avoid the standard three-day sentence with the Driver Intervention Program (DIP), which allows first-offenders to undergo drug education instead of jail time. This diversion program has a fee for participants, though it can be reduced for low-income people.¹⁴

Federal Employee Protections for Addiction Treatment: Ohio, like all localities in the U.S., falls under the Family and Medical Leave Act. This protects employees who need to take time off from work for medical reasons. Qualified employees can take 12 weeks of unpaid leave with the promise that their old position or a similar one will be waiting for them when they return.¹⁵

If you’re affected by substance abuse, reach out to our experienced addiction specialists now. We’re open 24/7 to help you find accredited alcohol or drug rehab centers in Cincinnati that are right for you. Our compassionate counselors can discuss your treatment options and verify your insurance.

1. FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov. 
2. National Institute of Health. Li ZR, Xie E, Crawford FW, et al. (November 12, 2019). Suspected heroin-related overdoses incidents in Cincinnati, Ohio: A spatiotemporal analysis.
3. Ohio Department of Health. (2022). Drug Overdose.
4. The city of Columbus. (2020.) Comprehensive Addiction-Related Data.
5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Behavioral Treatment Locator.
6. National Institute of Health. McCarty D, Braude L, Lyman DR, et al. (2015). Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Programs: Assessing the Evidence.
7. Tirado Muñoz J, Farré A, Mestre-Pintó J, Szerman N, Torrens M. (2018). Dual Diagnosis in Depression: Treatment Recommendations.
8. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (September 2020). Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
9. National Library of Medicine. Blanco, Laura et al. (August 6, 2020). Traumatic Events in Dual Disorders: Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics.
10. National Library of Medicine, Arias F, Szerman N, Vega P, Mesías B, Basurte I, Rentero D. (2017). Bipolar Disorder and Substance Use Disorders. Madrid Study on the Prevalence of Dual Disorders/Pathology.
11. Parmar, A., & Kaloiya, G. (2018). Comorbidity of Personality Disorder among Substance Use Disorder Patients: A Narrative Review.
12. Ohio Department of Health. (2022). No Matter What.
13. State Medical Board of Ohio. (2019). Regulations for Acute Opioid Prescriptions.
14. Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services. (2022). Driver Intervention Program.
15. The Center for Rural Development. Operation UNITE. (2020). Casey’s Law.
16. U.S. Department of Labor. (2022). FMLA.