Fentanyl Treatment in St. Petersburg, FL

Pinellas County's overdose decline is one of the sharpest in Florida, and fentanyl treatment is a large part of it. CDC provisional counts show 367 drug overdose deaths among Pinellas County residents in 2024, falling to 251 in 2025 - a drop of more than a hundred deaths in a single year. Fentanyl was still the deadliest drug here in 2024, but the medication network that treats fentanyl dependence is dense on the Pinellas peninsula. This page explains the data and the practical first steps.

Fentanyl in Pinellas County by the numbers

• 367 drug overdose deaths in 2024, falling to 251 in 2025 (12-month periods ending December), per CDC NCHS provisional county data.
• 402 deaths with fentanyl present in 2024, including 383 in which fentanyl caused or contributed to death, per Florida Medical Examiners Commission District 6 (St. Petersburg, covering Pinellas and Pasco counties).
• Statewide, fentanyl occurrences fell 34 percent (1,863 fewer) and fentanyl-caused deaths fell 35 percent (1,738 fewer) from 2023 to 2024, per the same report - Pinellas's 2025 decline continues that direction.

The Medical Examiners Commission also notes that at least 85 percent of fentanyl occurrences statewide were illicitly obtained, which is why counterfeit pills and powders in the St. Petersburg area carry overdose risk regardless of what a buyer thinks they are getting.

St. Petersburg has about 264,000 residents (July 2025 Census estimate), and its 30-mile treatment radius overlaps Tampa's - so people here can realistically choose between two metros' worth of programs.

Treatment for fentanyl dependence near St. Petersburg

Fentanyl is a strong synthetic opioid, and the medications proven to treat opioid use disorder work against it:

• Methadone - dispensed daily at federally certified opioid treatment programs (OTPs).
• Buprenorphine - a partial opioid agonist prescribed in offices and clinics; reduces cravings and withdrawal.
• Naltrexone - an opioid blocker taken after opioids have cleared the body, available as a monthly injection.

Research shows people treated with methadone or buprenorphine are less likely to die of an overdose than people who go without treatment. Fentanyl tolerance changes how programs start medication, so be specific with the clinician about what you have been using.

Within 30 miles of downtown St. Petersburg (ZIP 33701), the SAMHSA locator lists, as of October 2026:

• 36 substance use treatment facilities
• 17 federally certified opioid treatment programs
• 20 facilities that offer buprenorphine
• 18 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone treatment
• 16 offering some form of detoxification service

Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm current options on the locator.

Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN) is the DCF Managing Entity for Pinellas County and the clearest public-network door for uninsured and underinsured callers.

Naloxone and staying alive until treatment starts

Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose and cannot harm someone who is not overdosing. Because fentanyl is potent, more than one dose may be needed. Florida pharmacies can dispense naloxone without a separate prescription under the statewide standing order, and community partners distribute kits - ask CFBHN or a local pharmacy about free options.

If someone is unresponsive, breathing slowly, or has pinpoint pupils, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it.

Paying for fentanyl treatment

Florida Medicaid is administered by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and covers medically necessary treatment for eligible members through Statewide Medicaid Managed Care plans, including Sunshine Health, Simply Healthcare, Humana Medical Plan, Aetna Better Health of Florida, UnitedHealthcare, Molina Healthcare of Florida, and AmeriHealth Caritas Florida - confirm which plans serve your ZIP and whether the provider is in network. Florida has not expanded Medicaid, so uninsured residents often rely on DCF-funded Managing Entity slots; ask CFBHN about publicly funded and sliding-fee options.

How to start today

1. If someone is overdosing, call 911 now and give naloxone. For a crisis, call or text 988.
2. Call or text (800) 653-9376 to speak 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.

3. Search findtreatment.gov with ZIP code 33701 and filter for medication-assisted treatment.
4. Ask any program directly whether they can start buprenorphine or methadone quickly - with 17 certified OTPs inside 30 miles, there are multiple doors to try, and calls cost nothing.

Fentanyl dependence is treatable, Pinellas's numbers are moving in the same direction as the state's, and the medication network across the bay and the peninsula is deep. The first call is the hardest part.

Frequently asked questions