Quick answer
Pinellas County overdose deaths fell from 367 in 2024 to 251 in 2025 (CDC), and the SAMHSA locator lists 7 federally certified opioid treatment programs and 27 buprenorphine prescribers within 30 miles of downtown St. Petersburg. Medication works; here is how to access it.
Pinellas County has been one of the hardest-hit corners of Florida's fentanyl era - and one of the clearest turnarounds. County overdose deaths fell from 367 in the 12 months ending December 2024 to 251 in the 12 months ending December 2025, while the treatment network within 30 miles of downtown St. Petersburg includes 7 federally certified opioid treatment programs and 27 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine. This page explains the medications, the local network, and how to get started.
How bad the opioid problem is here
The Florida Medical Examiners Commission's 2024 report shows District 6 (St. Petersburg, covering Pinellas and Pasco counties) recorded 402 deaths with fentanyl present in 2024, including 383 in which fentanyl caused or contributed to death - the highest fentanyl-caused count among Florida's medical examiner districts. Fentanyl analogs appeared in 28 additional deaths. District 6's prescription-drug deaths fell 26.1%, from 905 in 2023 to 669 in 2024.
The CDC's provisional county series tells the same story in motion: 367 drug overdose deaths among Pinellas County residents in the 12 months ending December 2024, down to 251 in the 12 months ending December 2025 - about a 32% decline.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) near St. Petersburg
Medication-assisted treatment - also called medications for opioid use disorder, or MOUD - uses one of three FDA-approved medications alongside counseling. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse:
- Methadone is a full opioid agonist that relieves withdrawal and cravings. It is dispensed through certified opioid treatment programs.
- Buprenorphine is a partial agonist that reduces cravings and withdrawal, and can be prescribed in a doctor's office.
- Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors so opioids no longer produce a high. It can be started only after opioids have cleared the body.
Within 30 miles of downtown St. Petersburg (ZIP 33701), the SAMHSA locator lists:
- 7 federally certified opioid treatment programs
- 27 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine
- 20 that prescribe naltrexone
- 24 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone treatment
- 87 substance use facilities in total, 12 of them inside St. Petersburg city limits
The 30-mile circle stretches north to Clearwater and east across the bay into Tampa, so people in south Pinellas often have both a nearby program and a cross-bay fallback. A local anchor with decades in the county is Operation PAR, which offers medication-assisted treatment, withdrawal management, residential, and outpatient services from campuses in Pinellas Park, Largo, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg. Listing it is informational, not an endorsement - confirm openings and insurance directly. Counts change as programs open and close.
Paying for opioid treatment in St. Petersburg
Florida Medicaid is administered by AHCA and covers medically necessary SUD treatment for eligible members through Statewide Medicaid Managed Care plans - confirm your plan's network for the specific program. Florida has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. If you are uninsured, Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN), the DCF Managing Entity for the Suncoast Region including Pinellas, coordinates publicly funded treatment with sliding-fee options.
How to start today
- If this is a medical emergency, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it. For a crisis, call or text 988.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through your 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 code 33701 and filter for opioid treatment programs or buprenorphine.
- If you are uninsured, ask CFBHN about publicly funded slots, and call Operation PAR's 24/7 line to ask what is open tonight.
Medication for opioid use disorder works, and Pinellas has enough of it that the barrier is usually finding an opening and confirming payment - not whether treatment exists nearby.
Last updated: Sat Oct 17 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
What medication-assisted treatment is available near St. Petersburg?
Within 30 miles of downtown St. Petersburg (ZIP 33701), the SAMHSA locator lists 7 federally certified opioid treatment programs, 27 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine, 20 that prescribe naltrexone, and 24 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone treatment. Counts change as programs open and close.
How bad is fentanyl in Pinellas County?
Florida Medical Examiners Commission District 6 (St. Petersburg, covering Pinellas and Pasco counties) recorded 402 deaths with fentanyl present in 2024, including 383 in which fentanyl caused or contributed to death. CDC provisional data show 367 drug overdose deaths among Pinellas residents in the 12 months ending December 2024, falling to 251 in 2025.
Does Florida Medicaid cover MOUD 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. Uninsured residents can ask Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, the DCF Managing Entity for Pinellas County, about publicly funded options.
Where can I get naloxone in St. Petersburg?
Naloxone (Narcan) is available at many pharmacies without a standing requirement and through local health and harm-reduction programs. In an overdose, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it - it will not harm someone who is not overdosing.
What should I do if someone is overdosing right now?
Call 911 immediately and give naloxone if you have it. If you are in a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988, or call or text (800) 653-9376 to speak with a treatment specialist.