Quick answer
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid, and medication - buprenorphine or methadone - lowers the risk of dying from it. Tennessee vital statistics count 342 overdose deaths among Shelby County residents in 2024, 244 involving fentanyl. Here is what is available within 30 miles and how to start.
Memphis has carried some of the heaviest overdose numbers in Tennessee, and fentanyl is the drug at the center of most of them. The direction is finally improving — Shelby County's death count fell by more than 150 in a single year — but fentanyl is still present in the supply at a scale that makes naloxone and medication ordinary safety equipment, not last resorts. This page covers the local data, the medication options within 30 miles, and how to start.
How is fentanyl affecting Shelby County?
Tennessee Department of Health vital statistics recorded 342 drug overdose deaths among Shelby County residents in 2024, down 157 from 2023. Within those deaths, 244 involved fentanyl and 256 involved opioids. CDC's provisional county data show the trend continuing: 307 deaths in the 12 months ending December 2025, down from 354 the year before, on data through early October 2026.
The supply has not gotten safer as it shrinks. The Shelby County Health Department warns that powdered fentanyl looks like other white powders and is commonly mixed with methamphetamine and cocaine — which is why the county distributes free naloxone and fentanyl test strips.
What medication is available near Memphis?
Fentanyl responds to standard opioid use disorder treatment. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, buprenorphine and methadone cut withdrawal, craving, and overdose deaths; naltrexone blocks opioid effects after opioids leave the body. A SAMHSA locator pull on October 20, 2026 within 30 miles of Memphis — a radius reaching into Arkansas and Mississippi, where 10 of the 47 facilities sit — lists:
- 2 federally certified opioid treatment programs
- 9 facilities using or prescribing buprenorphine
- 10 facilities using naltrexone (including extended-release injections)
- 5 facilities offering detoxification services
- 40 offering outpatient care and 19 listing a sliding fee scale
Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm current openings on FindTreatment.gov or by phone.
Naloxone: carry it, tell people where it is
Tennessee's standing order law lets naloxone be provided without a personal prescription, and the Shelby County Health Department hands out free kits and test strips. Fentanyl is potent enough that overdoses move fast: slow breathing, blue or gray lips, unresponsiveness, pinpoint pupils. Call 911, give naloxone, stay with the person — a second dose after 2 to 3 minutes is appropriate if there is no response.
Paying for treatment in Memphis
TennCare covers medically necessary opioid use disorder treatment for eligible members through BlueCare Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee, or Wellpoint. Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid, so if you are uninsured, TN REDLINE at 1-800-889-9789 (call or text, 24/7) can point you to state-funded and sliding-scale programs — about 16 of the facilities in the 30-mile radius report payment assistance options.
How to start today
- If someone is overdosing, call 911 and give naloxone. For a crisis, call or text 988.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through medication options 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 a Memphis ZIP code and filter for opioid treatment programs or buprenorphine.
- Ask each program whether same-week medication induction is available and whether they help you get naloxone before you leave.
Shelby County's numbers are moving the right way because treatment and naloxone reached people. The next fall in that curve starts with a call someone has been putting off — possibly yours.
Last updated: Tue Oct 20 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
What medication treats fentanyl dependence?
Methadone and buprenorphine ease withdrawal and cravings and cut overdose deaths; naltrexone blocks opioid effects once opioids clear the body. Within 30 miles of Memphis, a FindTreatment.gov pull on October 20, 2026 lists 2 federally certified opioid treatment programs, 9 facilities using buprenorphine, and 10 using naltrexone. Counts change as programs open and close.
How big is fentanyl's role in Shelby County overdose deaths?
Tennessee Department of Health vital statistics recorded 342 drug overdose deaths among Shelby County residents in 2024, down 157 from 2023. Of those, 244 involved fentanyl and 256 involved opioids. CDC's provisional data count 307 deaths in the 12 months ending December 2025, down from 354 the year before.
Where can I get naloxone in Memphis?
The Shelby County Health Department and partner agencies distribute free naloxone and fentanyl test strips, and Tennessee law (T.C.A. 63-1-152) allows naloxone to be provided under standing order without a personal prescription. In an overdose, call 911 and give naloxone - it cannot harm someone who is not overdosing.
Why does fentanyl need extra caution with naloxone?
Fentanyl is far more potent than heroin, so overdoses can progress quickly and may need more than one naloxone dose. The Shelby County Health Department notes powdered fentanyl is commonly mixed into methamphetamine and cocaine, so even stimulant users can be exposed. Call 911, give naloxone, stay with the person, and repeat the dose after 2 to 3 minutes if needed.
Does TennCare cover fentanyl addiction treatment in Memphis?
For eligible members, TennCare covers medically necessary opioid use disorder treatment, including buprenorphine and methadone, through BlueCare Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee, or Wellpoint. Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid, so uninsured residents can call TN REDLINE at 1-800-889-9789 for state-funded and sliding-scale referrals.