Opioid Treatment and MAT in Nashville, TN
Fentanyl still drives most Davidson County overdose deaths, even after a meaningful drop in 2024. Nashville also has a licensed medication-assisted treatment network and a statewide referral line that can connect people the same day. This page explains each piece and how to access it.
How bad the opioid problem is here
Metro Public Health Department surveillance reports 513 suspected drug overdose deaths among Davidson County residents in 2024, down from 609 in 2023. Fentanyl was detected in roughly 70% of 2024 fatalities. Cocaine and psychostimulants were the next most common cause-of-death substances, and xylazine detections rose compared with 2023.
The burden is uneven: in 2024 the age-adjusted death rate among Black residents exceeded that among White residents, and residents ages 25 to 54 accounted for nearly three-quarters of fatal overdoses.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) near Nashville
Medication-assisted treatment - also called medications for opioid use disorder, or MOUD - uses methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone alongside counseling. Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows 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 downtown Nashville, the SAMHSA locator lists:
- 60 treatment facilities total
- 4 federally certified opioid treatment programs
- 30 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine
- 37 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone treatment
Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm current options on the locator.
Naloxone and harm reduction in Nashville
Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose and cannot hurt someone who is not overdosing. Tennessee pharmacies can dispense naloxone under statewide access rules, and Metro Public Health Department partners distribute kits as part of the county overdose response.
If someone is unresponsive, breathing slowly, or has pinpoint pupils, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it.
Paying for opioid treatment
TennCare covers medically necessary substance use disorder treatment for eligible members, including withdrawal management, outpatient and intensive outpatient care, residential treatment, and medications for alcohol or opioid use disorder when clinically appropriate. Most members enroll in one of TennCare's managed care organizations: BlueCare Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee, and Wellpoint (formerly Amerigroup) (TennCare Select serves defined special populations). Confirm your benefits with your plan. If you are uninsured, Tennessee's free 24/7 TN REDLINE at 1-800-889-9789 (call or text) can help with referrals.
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.
- Call or text TN REDLINE at 1-800-889-9789, or search findtreatment.gov with ZIP code 37203 and filter for medication-assisted treatment.
- Ask any program whether they can start buprenorphine quickly.
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.