Quick answer
District 13 medical examiners recorded 86 deaths with oxycodone present in Hillsborough County in 2024, and oxycodone caused 24 of them. Within 30 miles of downtown Tampa, the SAMHSA locator lists 10 federally certified opioid treatment programs and 41 facilities that offer buprenorphine. Medication for opioid use disorder is the standard of care.
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 already adapted, and stopping feels like the one thing you cannot do. Oxycodone dependence is a medical condition with a medical treatment, and Hillsborough County has one of the deeper networks of opioid treatment in Florida.
What is the fastest way to get oxycodone treatment in Tampa?
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 phone 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.
What the local oxycodone data show
The Florida Medical Examiners Commission 2024 report counted 86 deaths with oxycodone present in District 13, which covers Hillsborough County and Tampa, and oxycodone caused 24 of them. Only 7 involved oxycodone alone, and just 1 of those 7 was caused by oxycodone by itself; the other 79 also involved other drugs. Statewide, oxycodone was present in 868 deaths in 2024 and caused 342, down about 14 percent from 1,015 in 2023.
Oxycodone is not the leading drug in local deaths. The same report found fentanyl present in 254 District 13 deaths, causing 236, and cocaine present in 197, causing 107. Hillsborough County recorded 335 overdose deaths in 2024, according to CDC provisional county data. Tampa has about 413,600 residents, and Hillsborough County about 1.57 million (Census Bureau estimates, as of July 2025).
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 Tampa
Within 30 miles of downtown Tampa (ZIP 33602), the SAMHSA treatment locator lists 51 substance use treatment facilities, including:
- 10 federally certified opioid treatment programs
- 41 facilities that offer buprenorphine
- 34 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone treatment
Tampa Bay's safety-net network is coordinated by Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN), the Florida DCF managing entity for Hillsborough and neighboring Gulf Coast counties. Ask any program directly: Does this program offer methadone on site, or buprenorphine through a prescriber? How soon can I be seen?
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 CFBHN. 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 33602 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 Tampa has one of the deeper opioid treatment networks in Florida. Starting medication is the fastest proven way to lower the risk of dying.
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any facility named above. 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 St Petersburg, 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 Tampa and Hillsborough County in 2024?
The Florida Medical Examiners Commission 2024 report counted 86 deaths with oxycodone present in District 13, which covers Hillsborough County and Tampa, and oxycodone caused 24 of them. Only 7 involved oxycodone alone, and just 1 of those 7 was caused by oxycodone by itself. Statewide, oxycodone was present in 868 deaths in 2024 and caused 342, down about 14 percent from 1,015 in 2023.
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 Tampa?
Florida law (section 381.887, Florida Statutes) lets pharmacists dispense naloxone under a standing order without a personal prescription, and community partners distribute free kits. Ask Central Florida Behavioral Health Network or a local pharmacy about current options. Naloxone will not harm someone who is not overdosing.
How many opioid treatment programs are near Tampa?
Within 30 miles of downtown Tampa (ZIP 33602), the SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov locator lists 51 substance use treatment facilities, including 10 federally certified opioid treatment programs, 41 that offer buprenorphine, and 34 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone. Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm current availability by phone.