Quick answer
Florida Medical Examiners Commission District 13 recorded 197 deaths with cocaine present in 2024, 107 of them caused by cocaine. Statewide cocaine deaths fell 19 percent that year. There is no FDA-approved cocaine medication, but 41 substance use programs within 30 miles of Tampa offer behavioral care. Here is what works.
Cocaine rarely kills on its own terms - it kills in combination, and it keeps people in a cycle that outpatient care can break. In 2024, Florida Medical Examiners Commission District 13 (Tampa/Hillsborough) counted 197 deaths with cocaine present, and in 90 of them cocaine was present but did not cause death - a signature of cocaine used alongside other drugs, often opioids. There is no medication for cocaine dependence, but the behavioral treatments that work are available across Tampa. Here is what they are and how to start.
Cocaine in Hillsborough County by the numbers
- 197 deaths with cocaine present in 2024, per Medical Examiners Commission District 13 - 107 caused or contributed to by cocaine, 90 present but not the cause.
- Statewide, cocaine occurrences fell 17 percent (614 fewer) and cocaine-caused deaths fell 19 percent (457 fewer) from 2023 to 2024, per the same report.
- Cocaine was the second-leading drug causing death statewide in 2024, behind fentanyl - it is not a background drug.
The present-but-not-cause pattern matters for safety planning: if you or someone you know uses cocaine, an opioid overdose risk can ride along with it, which is why keeping naloxone nearby is sensible even for people who do not use opioids on purpose.
What actually treats cocaine use disorder
According to NIDA, no FDA-approved medication exists for cocaine dependence. What the evidence supports:
- Contingency management (CM) - tangible rewards (vouchers, prize draws) for negative drug tests. A federal ASPE review identifies CM as the treatment with the strongest effect on stimulant use, though many programs do not advertise it - ask directly.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) - teaches recognition of use triggers and practical coping; effects hold after treatment ends.
- Contingency management plus community reinforcement - combining CM with a structured recovery lifestyle produces stronger results than either alone.
Within 30 miles of downtown Tampa (ZIP 33602), the SAMHSA locator lists, as of October 2026:
- 41 substance use treatment programs
- 23 that list contingency management or motivational incentives among their approaches
- 15 offering intensive outpatient treatment
- 7 offering cocaine detoxification
- 11 offering residential (24-hour) care
Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm current options on the locator. Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN), the DCF Managing Entity for Hillsborough County, is the public-network door for uninsured and underinsured callers.
Naloxone and emergency awareness
Stimulant overdoses do not respond to naloxone, so call 911 immediately for chest pain, seizure, extreme agitation, or unresponsiveness after cocaine use. Keep naloxone on hand anyway: street cocaine can contain fentanyl, and NIDA notes that co-use of cocaine and opioids raises overdose risk. Florida pharmacies can dispense naloxone without a separate prescription under the statewide standing order.
Paying for cocaine treatment
Florida Medicaid (AHCA) covers medically necessary substance use 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. If you are uninsured, ask CFBHN about publicly funded slots and ask programs about sliding-scale fees.
How to start today
- In an emergency, call 911. For a 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 33602 and filter for outpatient care.
- When you call a program, ask two questions: "Do you run contingency management?" and "How soon can I start?" - the answers separate programs that treat stimulant use seriously from those that do not.
Cocaine use disorder responds to treatment, and Tampa has enough programs - including a meaningful share that run contingency management - that you can be selective.
Last updated: Tue Oct 20 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
Is there a medication for cocaine use disorder?
No FDA-approved medication exists for cocaine dependence. The behavioral treatments with the strongest evidence are contingency management - tangible rewards for negative drug tests - and cognitive behavioral therapy. Within 30 miles of Tampa, 23 programs list contingency management or motivational incentives among their approaches.
How common is cocaine in Hillsborough County deaths?
Florida Medical Examiners Commission District 13 (Tampa) recorded 197 deaths with cocaine present in 2024 - 107 in which cocaine caused or contributed to death, and 90 in which it was present but not the cause, a pattern that often reflects cocaine used alongside other drugs.
Is cocaine in Tampa getting better or worse?
Statewide, cocaine occurrences fell 17 percent (614 fewer) and cocaine-caused deaths fell 19 percent (457 fewer) from 2023 to 2024, per the Florida Medical Examiners Commission. District 13 still recorded 197 cocaine-present deaths in 2024, so the local risk remains real.
Does cocaine treatment in Tampa accept Medicaid?
Florida Medicaid (AHCA) covers medically necessary substance use treatment - outpatient counseling, intensive outpatient, and residential care - for eligible members through Statewide Medicaid Managed Care plans. Florida has not expanded Medicaid; uninsured residents can ask Central Florida Behavioral Health Network about publicly funded options.
What should I do in a cocaine emergency?
Call 911 immediately for chest pain, seizure, or a suspected overdose - stimulant emergencies do not respond to naloxone. 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.