Opioid Treatment and MAT in Kingsport, TN

Published: 2026-10-25 Updated: 2026-10-25

What opioid treatment is available in Kingsport, TN?

It depends on how much structure and medication support you need right now. For most people, medication for opioid use disorder - buprenorphine or methadone - plus counseling is the foundation, and Kingsport is one of the places in northeast Tennessee where that starts are realistic: within 30 miles, the SAMHSA locator lists 1 federally certified opioid treatment program and 20 buprenorphine prescribers. If you have been using heavily, using alone, or have other medical problems, a medically supervised start is safer. An assessment should set the level of care.

Sullivan County recorded 37 opioid-involved overdose deaths in 2024, down from 69 in 2023 (Tennessee Department of Health). Medication works, and it is within reach here - the hardest part is usually the first call.

Opioids in Sullivan County by the numbers

Tennessee Department of Health final data count 57 drug overdose deaths in Sullivan County in 2024, down sharply from 93 in 2023. Of those, 37 involved any opioid, 28 involved fentanyl, 9 involved prescription opioids, and 2 involved heroin. Statewide, Tennessee recorded 2,499 drug overdose deaths in 2024, down from 3,616 in 2023, with opioids involved in 1,835 of them.

CDC's provisional county-level data count 45 drug overdose deaths in Sullivan County in the 12 months ending December 2025, down from 57 the year before - an early sign the decline continued. Provisional counts may be revised.

Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people treated with methadone or buprenorphine are less likely to die or to have an overdose than people who go without treatment. The three medications work differently:

• Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that reduces cravings and withdrawal without a strong high. It can be prescribed in a doctor's office, including by telehealth, and is the easiest medication to start quickly. The SAMHSA locator lists 20 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine within 30 miles of Kingsport (pull dated October 8, 2026).
• Methadone is a full agonist dispensed only through a certified opioid treatment program - one is listed within 30 miles. It is highly effective but usually requires daily visits at first.
• Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors so opioids stop producing a high. It can be started only after opioids have cleared your system, typically 7 to 10 days.

Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm current openings by phone. Our guide to fentanyl addiction treatment covers how medication starts look when fentanyl is involved.

Naloxone and overdose response

Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose and cannot hurt someone who is not overdosing. It is available without a prescription at Tennessee pharmacies; ask your pharmacist, the Sullivan County Health Department, or any program you contact about free or low-cost kits.

If someone is unresponsive, breathing slowly, or has pinpoint pupils, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it. If you use opioids, using alone is the biggest risk - tell someone you can be reached, and keep naloxone within arm's reach.

Paying for opioid treatment in Kingsport

TennCare, Tennessee's Medicaid program, covers medically necessary treatment for eligible members. TennCare's BESMART network provides medications for opioid use disorder, behavioral health, and care coordination; nurse practitioners and physician assistants must be in that network for buprenorphine to be covered.

Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid to all low-income adults, so many uninsured people will not qualify for TennCare. If that is you, ask the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 about state-funded and sliding-fee options, or call the REDLINE below.

Where to get help in Kingsport

• Tennessee REDLINE - call or text 1-800-889-9789, free and confidential, 24/7, funded by TDMHSAS.
• FindHelpNowTN.org lists treatment openings in near real time, filtered by level of care and payment type.
• For state-funded recovery support, TDMHSAS contracts with the Addiction Recovery Program. In Sullivan County that includes Comprehensive Community Services, Inc. (CCS) at (423) 349-4070, which offers case management, recovery skills, and transitional housing to eligible residents.

How to start today

1. If someone is overdosing, call 911 now and give naloxone. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.
2. Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through opioid treatment options with a 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.

3. Search findtreatment.gov from Kingsport and filter for medication for opioid use disorder. Ask about same-week buprenorphine starts.
4. Ask any program whether they accept TennCare or offer a sliding fee, and what happens if you miss a day.

Opioid use disorder is a treatable medical condition, and the medications for it are available in this region. The first call is the hard part; the treatment itself is well understood.

This page is general health information, not medical advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any facility named above. Other Opioid treatment in Tennessee: Opioid treatment and MAT in Bristol, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Clarksville, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Cookeville, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Franklin, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Jackson, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Johnson City, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Knoxville, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Maryville, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Memphis, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Morristown, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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