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Linn County Mental Health Access Center launches withdrawal management program
The program will provide medical and psychological support for individuals following a stop or reduction in drug or alcohol use
Jan. 12, 2026 2:14 pm, Updated: Jan. 12, 2026 3:23 pm
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CEDAR RAPIDS — The Linn County Mental Health Access Center has officially launched its long-awaited withdrawal management program, placing the final “puzzle piece” of the center’s original concept plan.
The program last week began providing medical and psychological care for adults experiencing symptoms of withdrawal after a stop or reduction in drug use. The soft rollout calls for two beds to start with a focus on serving those affected by alcohol or opiate misuse.
As the program ramps up, scheduled admissions are only available on Mondays and Tuesdays. The goal is to eventually expand that availability, however, to align with the center’s other 24/7 services.
“Having withdrawal management on site has been a part of our plan even prior to opening our doors back in 2021,” said Mental Health Access Center Director Erin Foster. “To see that finally coming to fruition is very exciting.”
Withdrawal refers to the physical and psychological symptoms a person experiences after abruptly stopping addictive substance use or significantly reducing substance intake. Those symptoms can vary in both severity and length depending on the patient and their substance use history.
The access center already had a sobering unit where intoxicated individuals can sober up in a safe environment. This new program takes things a step further by offering support and medical supervision through the withdrawal process.
Foster said a typical stay in the withdrawal management program will be between three and five days. During that time, patients will have regular check-ins with medical staff and substance use counselors with additional support from the center’s crisis intervention team.
Medical staff will be on hand to assist with medication management, as needed, to help alleviate the cravings and other symptoms associated with withdrawal. Substance use counselors will then work with the patient to draft a discharge plan and connect to area substance use service providers.
“We’re integrating this into our existing programming … and doing a lot of the same pieces around working with (patients) to figure out when they leave, what other community supports do they need to still feel supported outside the inpatient environment,” Foster said.
The 24/7 access center is managed by Linn County, although its services are provided in conjunction with UnityPoint Health’s Abbe Center for Community Mental Health, Foundation 2 Crisis Services and the Area Ambulance Service.
Mental Health Access Center Advisory Committee Chair Gage Miskimen said the addition of the withdrawal management program represents a natural evolution for the center, which has steadily grown its offerings since opening in 2021.
“It’s taken a little bit of time, … but having this service at the access center is absolutely essential,” Miskimen said. “There is a gap in that part of the mental health and substance use recovery system in this area, so any program like this can go a long way.”
For more information on the center or to learn more about the admissions process for withdrawal management, visit LinnCountyIowa.gov/AccessCenter or call the center at 319-892-5612.
Comments: grace.nieland@thegazette.com
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