Quick answer
Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic prescription opioid, and dependence on it is treated with the same medications as any opioid use disorder. Within 30 miles of Nashville, FindTreatment.gov lists 40 facilities using buprenorphine and 36 using naltrexone. Davidson County recorded 394 drug overdose deaths in 2024, 42 involving prescription opioids. Here is how to start.
Published: 2026-10-25 Updated: 2026-10-25
Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic prescription opioid, and dependence on it is treated with the same medications as any opioid use disorder: buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone. Within 30 miles of Nashville, FindTreatment.gov lists 40 facilities using buprenorphine and 36 using naltrexone, and Davidson County's overdose deaths have been falling for two years running.
What does oxycodone treatment look like in Nashville?
It depends on how much you are taking and how fast you want to start. Prescription-pill dependence is often treated in a regular doctor's office: buprenorphine prescribed from a weekly appointment, sometimes by telehealth, with counseling added as you stabilize. If you have been injecting, using fentanyl-contaminated pills, or relapsing after past attempts, a clinic-based program with methadone or supervised buprenorphine gives you more structure. On the first call, ask three things: how soon can I be seen, which medications do you offer, and do you take my insurance.
What oxycodone is and why it still matters
Oxycodone is the active ingredient in OxyContin and Percocet, and the Tennessee Department of Health's opioid overview lists it among the semi-synthetic opioids - chemically related to heroin, prescribed for pain, and capable of producing the same physical dependence. Two things matter for Nashville right now:
- Prescription opioid deaths are down. Tennessee Department of Health final data count 42 prescription-opioid-involved overdose deaths among Davidson County residents in 2024, down from 52 in 2023, out of 394 total drug overdose deaths.
- The illicit supply has changed. Fentanyl was involved in 302 of Davidson County's 2024 deaths. Counterfeit pills sold as oxycodone are frequently fentanyl, so a pill bought outside a pharmacy is not a dose you can predict.
Metro Public Health's separate surveillance, which uses suspected-death reporting, counted 513 suspected overdose deaths in Davidson County in 2024, down from 609 in 2023. The two systems differ in method; both show the same direction.
Where treatment is in the metro
Medication is the core of opioid use disorder treatment. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people treated with methadone or buprenorphine are less likely to die or overdose than people without medication - SAMHSA treats that as the standard of care, not an option of last resort.
Within 30 miles of downtown Nashville, an October 2026 FindTreatment.gov pull lists:
- 40 facilities using buprenorphine and 36 using naltrexone
- 35 running intensive outpatient programs
- 17 with residential programs and 16 offering detoxification
Counts change as programs open and close, so confirm current openings by phone. If a program says it does not prescribe Suboxone, ask about generic buprenorphine - the medication is the same and the generic is usually cheaper.
Naloxone: keep it before you need it
Because counterfeit pills are part of the local supply, naloxone is not just for injectors. Tennessee pharmacies can supply it without a personal prescription under the statewide standing order, and Metro Public Health partners distribute kits as part of the county overdose response. If someone is unresponsive or breathing slowly, call 911 and give naloxone - it cannot harm someone who has not taken opioids.
Paying for treatment
TennCare covers medically necessary opioid use disorder treatment for eligible members, including medications, through BlueCare, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, or Wellpoint; some plans require prior authorization. Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid, so uninsured residents can turn to the Tennessee REDLINE at 1-800-889-9789 for state-funded and sliding-fee referrals.
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 from a Nashville ZIP code and filter for buprenorphine or outpatient medication treatment.
- Before your first visit, write down what you have been taking, how much, and when you last used - it determines how safely you can start.
Opioid dependence - prescription or street - responds to medication, and Nashville has one of the deeper provider rosters in the state. The first call is the step only you can take.
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 Tennessee: Oxycodone treatment in Bristol, Tennessee, Oxycodone treatment in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Oxycodone treatment in Clarksville, Tennessee, Oxycodone treatment in Cookeville, Tennessee, Oxycodone treatment in Franklin, Tennessee, Oxycodone treatment in Jackson, Tennessee, Oxycodone treatment in Johnson City, Tennessee, Oxycodone treatment in Kingsport, Tennessee, Oxycodone treatment in Knoxville, Tennessee, Oxycodone treatment in Maryville, Tennessee, Oxycodone treatment in Memphis, Tennessee, Oxycodone treatment in Morristown, Tennessee.
Last updated: Sun Oct 25 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
Is oxycodone addiction treated differently from heroin or fentanyl addiction?
Not at the level that matters. Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid - the Tennessee Department of Health lists it alongside OxyContin and Percocet in its opioid overview - and the evidence-based treatment is the same: buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone, usually with counseling. The practical differences show up in induction timing, because fentanyl now mixed into the illicit supply clears the body differently than prescription pills.
Where can I find treatment in Nashville?
Within 30 miles of downtown Nashville, a FindTreatment.gov pull in October 2026 lists 40 facilities using buprenorphine, 36 using naltrexone, 35 running intensive outpatient programs, and 16 offering detoxification. Medication can be prescribed from a regular office visit or by telehealth, so daily clinic dosing is optional, not required.
How common are prescription-opioid deaths in Davidson County?
Tennessee Department of Health final data count 394 drug overdose deaths among Davidson County residents in 2024, and 42 of them involved prescription opioids - down from 52 in 2023. Fentanyl was involved in 302 of the 2024 deaths. Metro Public Health's separate surveillance counted 513 suspected overdose deaths in 2024; the systems count differently, and both point down.
Do I have to detox before starting medication?
Not before buprenorphine or methadone - those medications treat withdrawal directly. Naltrexone is the exception: it requires a full detox first, because it blocks opioid receptors and will trigger withdrawal if opioids are still on board. Tell the prescriber exactly what you have been using and when you last used it, and let them set the start timing.
What should I do in an emergency?
If someone is unresponsive or breathing slowly, call 911 and give naloxone if you have it. Tennessee pharmacies can supply naloxone without a personal prescription under the statewide standing order. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988. You can also call or text (800) 653-9376 to reach a treatment specialist.