Quick answer
District 6 medical examiners counted 87 deaths with oxycodone present in 2024, 54 of them caused by the drug, and 27 of those were people over 50. Within 30 miles of St. Petersburg the SAMHSA locator lists 10 certified opioid treatment programs and 36 buprenorphine providers. Medication is the standard of care.
What is the fastest way to get oxycodone treatment in St. Petersburg?
It depends on how much danger the person is in right now. If someone is unresponsive or breathing slowly, that is a 911 call and naloxone, not a call about beds. If they are stable but using daily, same-week medication - buprenorphine or methadone - lowers the risk of dying far more than waiting for a residential opening. If they are tapering a prescription or leaving inpatient care, outpatient medication with counseling protects the gains. Either way, the next step is one call to a program that can screen today.
Oxycodone treatment in St. Petersburg means medication first: 10 certified opioid treatment programs and 36 buprenorphine providers sit within 30 miles. District 6 recorded 87 deaths with oxycodone present in 2024, 54 caused by the drug, and 27 of those were people over 50. Here is how the local system works.
What the local oxycodone data show
Most people who become dependent on oxycodone started with a legitimate prescription after an injury or surgery. By the time the refills stop, the body has adapted, and stopping feels like the one thing you cannot do. The Florida Medical Examiners Commission 2024 report counted 87 deaths with oxycodone present in District 6 (St. Petersburg, covering Pinellas and Pasco counties), and oxycodone caused 54 of them. Only 4 involved oxycodone alone; the other 83 also involved other drugs.
The age pattern is telling: of the 54 oxycodone-caused deaths in District 6, 27 were people over 50, 21 were 35 to 50, and 6 were 26 to 34. That skew toward older adults matches a nationwide pattern in which dependence begins with a prescription that is later withdrawn or stopped. St. Petersburg has about 264,033 residents and 21.1 percent are 65 or older (Census QuickFacts, July 2025).
Oxycodone is not the leading drug in local deaths - fentanyl was present in 402 District 6 deaths in 2024 - but it remains a common entry point. Statewide, oxycodone was present in 868 deaths in 2024 and caused 342, down about 14.5 percent in occurrences and 24 percent in caused deaths from 2023. CDC provisional county data show 367 drug overdose deaths among Pinellas County residents in the 12 months ending December 2024, falling to 251 in the 12 months ending December 2025 and 244 through March 2026 - one of the sharpest declines in Florida, in a county of about 965,900 people.
Why oxycodone dependence builds
Oxycodone is a Schedule II opioid, meaning the DEA classifies it as having a high potential for abuse that can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. It is a real and useful pain medicine, and it is also habit-forming in a way that is easy to underestimate. With regular use, the brain reduces its own pain signaling and rewards, and the body develops tolerance, so the same dose stops working.
That combination is why "just stop taking them" so often fails. Withdrawal brings muscle aches, nausea, sweating, chills, diarrhea, anxiety, and insomnia, usually starting within a day of the last dose. For a healthy adult it is rarely medically dangerous by itself, but the days after are dangerous in a different way: tolerance drops quickly, so going back to an old dose can cause a fatal overdose. If you also drink heavily or take benzodiazepines, stopping suddenly can be life-threatening and needs medical supervision.
Medication is the first line of treatment
Oxycodone use disorder is treatable, and medication is the standard of care. NIDA lists three FDA-approved medications:
- Methadone - a full opioid agonist dispensed daily through a certified opioid treatment program (OTP).
- Buprenorphine - a partial agonist prescribed as a daily dose or a longer-acting injection.
- Naltrexone - blocks opioid receptors and is started only after opioids have cleared the body.
People treated with methadone or buprenorphine are less likely to die or have an overdose than people who get no medication. That is why a program offering only counseling, with no medication, is usually not the best first call for someone at high overdose risk.
Treatment options around St. Petersburg
Within 30 miles of downtown St. Petersburg (ZIP 33701), a SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov pull on October 21, 2026 found 46 substance use treatment facilities, including:
- 10 federally certified opioid treatment programs
- 36 facilities that offer buprenorphine
- 30 that offer naltrexone
- 24 offering intensive outpatient, 10 offering detoxification, and 10 with residential care
Methadone programs in the radius include Operation PAR, Metro Treatment of Florida (New Season), Lakeside Clinic (Medmark), and Ibis Healthcare. Listing them is informational, not an endorsement - confirm openings and insurance directly. The 30-mile circle also reaches across Tampa Bay into Tampa, so people in south Pinellas often have a nearby program and a cross-bay fallback. Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN) is the DCF Managing Entity for Pinellas County and the clearest public-network door for uninsured callers.
Paying for oxycodone treatment
Florida Medicaid (AHCA) covers medically necessary substance use disorder care, including medication for opioid use disorder, through Statewide Medicaid Managed Care plans for eligible members. Florida has not expanded Medicaid, so many working-age adults do not qualify. If you are uninsured, ask about publicly funded slots coordinated through Central Florida Behavioral Health Network. Private plans and Marketplace coverage must cover substance use care under federal parity rules; confirm network status before you commit.
How to start today
- If someone is overdosing - slow or stopped breathing, blue lips, unresponsive - call 911 and give naloxone. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.
- 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.
- Search findtreatment.gov with ZIP code 33701 and filter for opioid treatment programs or buprenorphine.
- Ask a program how soon it can start medication and whether it helps with naloxone.
Oxycodone use disorder is treatable, and Pinellas has enough medication capacity that the barrier is usually finding an opening, not whether treatment exists nearby. Starting medication is the fastest proven way to lower the risk of dying. Other Oxycodone treatment in Florida: Oxycodone treatment in Daytona Beach, Florida, Oxycodone treatment in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Oxycodone treatment in Fort Myers, Florida, Oxycodone treatment in Gainesville, Florida, Oxycodone treatment in Jacksonville, Florida, Oxycodone treatment in Lakeland, Florida, Oxycodone treatment in Miami, Florida, Oxycodone treatment in Ocala, Florida, Oxycodone treatment in Orlando, Florida, Oxycodone treatment in Pensacola, Florida, Oxycodone treatment in Sarasota, Florida, Oxycodone treatment in Tallahassee, Florida.
Last updated: Wed Oct 21 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
How many oxycodone deaths were there in St. Petersburg in 2024?
The Florida Medical Examiners Commission 2024 report counted 87 deaths with oxycodone present in District 6, which covers Pinellas and Pasco counties, and oxycodone caused 54 of them. Only 4 involved oxycodone alone; the other 83 also involved other drugs. Of the 54 oxycodone-caused deaths, 27 were people over 50, 21 were 35 to 50, and 6 were 26 to 34. Statewide, oxycodone was present in 868 deaths in 2024 and caused 342.
What medication treats oxycodone use disorder?
Three medications are FDA-approved for opioid use disorder: methadone, dispensed through a certified opioid treatment program; buprenorphine, which any practitioner with a standard DEA registration can now prescribe; and naltrexone, which blocks opioid receptors. NIDA reports that people treated with methadone or buprenorphine are less likely to die or have an overdose than people who get no medication.
Is oxycodone withdrawal dangerous to stop on my own?
For a healthy adult, opioid withdrawal is rarely life-threatening by itself, but it is intensely uncomfortable, and the days after are risky because tolerance drops fast and returning to an old dose can cause an overdose. A doctor can prescribe medication that eases withdrawal. If someone is unresponsive or breathing slowly, call 911 and give naloxone.
Where can I get naloxone in St. Petersburg?
Florida law (section 381.887, Florida Statutes) lets pharmacists dispense naloxone under a statewide standing order without a personal prescription, and free kits are distributed through harm-reduction and public-health partners. Ask a pharmacy or a Central Florida Behavioral Health Network provider. Naloxone will not harm someone who is not overdosing.
How many opioid treatment programs are near St. Petersburg?
Within 30 miles of downtown St. Petersburg (ZIP 33701), a SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov pull on October 21, 2026 found 46 substance use treatment facilities, including 10 federally certified opioid treatment programs, 36 that offer buprenorphine, 30 that offer naltrexone, 24 offering intensive outpatient, and 10 offering detoxification. Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm current availability by phone.