What medication-assisted treatment is available near Tampa, FL?

Within 30 miles of downtown Tampa, the SAMHSA locator lists 10 federally certified opioid treatment programs, 41 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine, and 34 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone treatment. Counts change as programs open and close.

Does Florida Medicaid cover medications for opioid use disorder?

Florida Medicaid (AHCA) covers medically necessary SUD treatment for eligible members through Statewide Medicaid Managed Care plans. Florida has not expanded Medicaid. Uninsured residents can ask Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN) about publicly funded options.

What local help is available for opioid use disorder?

Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN) is the DCF Managing Entity for Hillsborough County and neighboring Gulf Coast counties. In an emergency call 911; for a crisis call or text 988.

What should I do if someone is overdosing right now?

Call 911 immediately and give naloxone if you have it - naloxone will not harm someone who is not overdosing. 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.

Opioid Treatment and MAT in Tampa, FL

CDC NCHS provisional county data show 335 drug overdose deaths among Hillsborough County residents in 2024 (12-month period ending December 2024). Florida Medical Examiners Commission District 13 (Tampa/Hillsborough) reported 254 deaths with fentanyl present in 2024, including 236 in which fentanyl caused or contributed to death. The Tampa metro also has a measurable medication-assisted treatment network: buprenorphine prescribers and federally certified opioid treatment programs within 30 miles. This page explains each piece and how to access it.

How bad the opioid problem is here

Fentanyl remains central to local fatalities even where totals move year to year. Hillsborough's scale - Tampa at about 403,000 residents and the county near 1.5 million - shapes how people find OTPs, buprenorphine clinics, and naloxone.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) near Tampa

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.

Research is clear that people treated with methadone or buprenorphine are less likely to die or to have an overdose than those who go without treatment.

Within 30 miles of Tampa (ZIP 33602), the SAMHSA locator lists:

51 treatment facilities total
10 federally certified opioid treatment programs
41 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine
34 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone treatment

Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN) is the DCF Managing Entity for Hillsborough and neighboring Gulf Coast counties and is the clearest public-network door for uninsured and underinsured callers.

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

Naloxone and harm reduction in Tampa

Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose and cannot hurt someone who is not overdosing. Florida pharmacies can dispense naloxone under statewide access rules, and community partners distribute kits. Ask CFBHN or a local pharmacy about current free or low-cost options.

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

Paying for opioid treatment

Florida Medicaid is administered by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Florida has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, so many low-income adults fall into a coverage gap and rely on DCF-funded Managing Entity slots. Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) plans that members may enroll in include 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. If you are uninsured, ask CFBHN about publicly funded and sliding-fee options.

How to start today

If someone is overdosing, call 911 now and give naloxone. 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 medication-assisted treatment or buprenorphine.
Ask any program directly whether they can start buprenorphine quickly - same-week starts are common in many metros.

Opioid use disorder is a treatable medical condition, and the medications that treat it are covered here. The hardest part is usually the first call, not the treatment itself.