Quick answer
District 6 medical examiners recorded 118 deaths with alprazolam present in 2024 - the most of any Florida district. Because stopping benzodiazepines suddenly can cause seizures, withdrawal belongs in supervised care; the SAMHSA locator lists 6 benzo detox programs within 30 miles of downtown St. Petersburg.
Pinellas County shows up in Florida's benzodiazepine data more than almost anywhere else: Florida Medical Examiners Commission District 6 (St. Petersburg) recorded 118 deaths with alprazolam present in 2024, the highest total of any of the state's 25 medical examiner districts. That is one more reason a benzo problem here deserves a careful, medically supervised exit - stopping suddenly can cause seizures. The SAMHSA locator lists 6 benzo detox programs within 30 miles of downtown. This page explains the safe way down and how to start today.
Why benzodiazepine withdrawal is a medical matter
Benzodiazepines slow the nervous system, and the brain adapts to that brake. The FDA's boxed warning covers the entire class: abruptly stopping or rapidly reducing the dose can cause withdrawal reactions including seizures, and physical dependence can develop within days to weeks of steady use even at prescribed doses.
The ASAM benzodiazepine tapering guideline is direct: physically dependent patients should reduce the dose slowly under clinical supervision rather than quit abruptly. A supervised taper may lower the dose step by step, or switch to a longer-acting benzodiazepine first, with monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, sleep, and mood along the way. Long tapers can take months - that is what careful looks like.
Two cautions worth remembering: benzodiazepines are especially dangerous mixed with opioids or alcohol, and physical dependence on a prescribed medication is not the same as a substance use disorder - which is why tapering is a clinical decision, not a moral test.
Benzo detox options within 30 miles
Searching the SAMHSA locator from ZIP 33701 with a 30-mile radius returns 87 substance use facilities, including:
- 6 offering benzodiazepine detoxification
- 9 offering detoxification overall (withdrawal management)
- 9 with residential programs
- 69 offering outpatient services
- 12 inside St. Petersburg city limits
The benzo-detox listings include Footprints Beachside Recovery (about 8 miles from downtown) and Tranquil Shores (about 10 miles), both in St. Petersburg, plus Turning Point of Tampa (about 16 miles), Narconon Suncoast in Clearwater (about 17 miles), and two more in Tampa. This is a factual listing from the public locator, not a recommendation - call each program, confirm benzodiazepine-specific capacity, and ask about insurance. Counts change as programs open and close.
Operation PAR, the Pinellas County nonprofit founded in 1970, also runs withdrawal-management (detoxification) services at its Highpoint campus in Clearwater alongside medication-assisted treatment.
Benzodiazepines in the local data
District 6's 2024 MEC report numbers stand out:
- 118 deaths with alprazolam present in 2024, including 56 in which alprazolam caused or contributed to death - the highest total and highest caused-count of any Florida district.
- 58 deaths with clonazepam present, 12 of them clonazepam-caused.
- District 6's total prescription-drug deaths fell 26.1%, from 905 in 2023 to 669 in 2024.
Statewide, alprazolam appeared in 986 deaths in 2024 (down 10.8% from 1,106) and clonazepam in 386 (down 20.7%). Presence in toxicology does not mean a benzodiazepine caused the death alone; most fatal overdoses involve multiple substances. But the Pinellas numbers show why local clinicians see benzo dependence alongside fentanyl and alcohol every week.
Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN) is the DCF Managing Entity serving Pinellas and neighboring Gulf Coast counties.
Paying for benzo detox in St. Petersburg
Florida Medicaid is administered by AHCA and covers medically necessary substance use treatment for eligible members through Statewide Medicaid Managed Care plans - confirm your plan's network for the specific facility before committing. Florida has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. If you are uninsured, ask CFBHN about publicly funded and sliding-fee pathways.
How to start today
- If this is a medical emergency, call 911. A seizure, severe confusion, or hallucinations during withdrawal need emergency care. For a crisis, call or text 988.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through taper and detox 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 with ZIP 33701, filter for detoxification, and confirm benzodiazepine-specific care with each program you call.
- If you are uninsured, ask CFBHN about publicly funded slots.
Do not stop your benzodiazepine today on your own - but do make today the day you ask for help planning the stop.
Last updated: Sat Oct 17 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
Where can I detox from benzodiazepines near St. Petersburg?
The SAMHSA locator lists 6 facilities within 30 miles of downtown St. Petersburg offering benzodiazepine detoxification: two inside St. Petersburg city limits (Footprints Beachside Recovery, about 8 miles from downtown, and Tranquil Shores, about 10) and four across the bay or up the coast in Tampa and Clearwater. Call ahead to confirm benzo-specific capacity - detox units set up for alcohol or opioids handle benzodiazepines differently.
Is benzodiazepine withdrawal really dangerous?
Yes. The FDA's boxed warning for the entire benzodiazepine class warns that abruptly stopping or rapidly reducing these drugs can cause withdrawal reactions including seizures, and that physical dependence can develop within days to weeks of steady use even at prescribed doses. That is why tapers are done under medical supervision.
How common are benzodiazepines in local overdose toxicology?
Florida Medical Examiners Commission District 6 (St. Petersburg, covering Pinellas and Pasco counties) recorded 118 deaths with alprazolam present in 2024 - 56 of them alprazolam-caused - plus 58 deaths with clonazepam present. CDC provisional data show 367 drug overdose deaths among Pinellas County residents in the 12 months ending December 2024, falling to 251 in 2025.
Does Florida Medicaid cover benzo detox in St. Petersburg?
Florida Medicaid (AHCA) covers medically necessary substance use treatment for eligible members through Statewide Medicaid Managed Care plans; Florida has not expanded Medicaid. Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, the DCF Managing Entity for Pinellas County, can help uninsured residents find publicly funded and sliding-fee options.
Who do I call for a crisis in St. Petersburg?
Call 911 for a seizure, unresponsiveness, or severe confusion. Call or text 988 for any mental health or substance use crisis. You can also call or text (800) 653-9376 to speak with a treatment specialist who can check your coverage and find an opening.