Dover, FL Detox and Rehab Centers

As a suburb of Tampa, the city of Dover faces many of the same problems related to substance misuse and drug overdose deaths as its much-larger neighboring city. Dover is in Hillsborough County, where opioid addiction and overdose are serious public health concerns.

In 2020, there were 485 drug overdose deaths in Hillsborough County.¹ Approximately 84.3% of those deaths were opioid-related.¹ That same year in Hillsborough County, there were 7,286 emergency medical service responses to suspected drug overdoses.¹ Of that number, nearly 34% (2,468) involved opioids.¹

In 2018, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner stated that the majority of overdose deaths in the county involved multiple substances of abuse, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and kratom.² The medical examiner also reported that 5 overdose deaths that occurred that year may have been caused by counterfeit benzodiazepines laced with fentanyl.²

The rate of alcohol misuse in Hillsborough County is also relatively high compared with that in other Florida counties. In 2019, an estimated 17.1% of adults in Hillsborough County reported engaging regularly in heavy or binge drinking.³ In 2020, the state average of adult binge drinkers was 15.5%.³

There are no addiction treatment centers located in Dover. However, there are 7 drug and alcohol rehab facilities located within a 10-mile radius in Brandon, Plant City, and Tampa.⁴ Detoxification, residential rehab, outpatient rehab, and sober living housing are some of the many treatment programs offered at these facilities.⁴

Despite the problems it faces with opioid addiction, Dover does not have any dedicated opioid treatment programs overseen by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).⁵ Those who are willing to travel outside of Dover to participate in one of these programs have the option of receiving treatment in Brandon or Tampa.⁵

Buprenorphine treatment is an alternative to dedicated opioid treatment programs from SAMHSA. Buprenorphine is one of several medications used to treat opioid use disorder.⁶ It can reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms, including drug cravings.⁶

There are 35 buprenorphine practitioners located within 10 miles of Dover, and 202 practitioners operating within 25 miles.⁷ This represents more than 8% of the total number of buprenorphine practitioners in the entire state of Florida.⁷

Self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) complement and extend the effects of professional treatment such as behavioral therapy and counseling in a drug rehab program.⁸ The social support provided in AA and NA can help people achieve healthier lifestyles and long-term abstinence while in recovery from addiction.⁸

AA meetings in Dover are available 7 days a week and take place at St. Clements Catholic Church and the Hull House.⁹ People in Dover who are interested in attending local AA meetings can access the full meeting schedule on the official website for the Tri-County Central Office Tampa AA.⁹

A few NA meetings take place at Hull House in Plant City, though the majority of local NA meeting venues are in Brandon.¹⁰ Virtual NA meetings for Dover residents are also available for those who prefer to stay at home.¹⁰ A full list of NA meetings near Dover is listed on the official NA website.¹⁰

Sources:

1. Florida Department of Health. (n.d.). Substance use dashboard: Overdoses (Hillsborough) 2020.
2. Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance. (n.d.). Drug Epidemiology Network (DEN) report, Hillsborough County, Florida.
3. Florida Department of Health. (n.d.). Substance use dashboard: risk behaviors (Hillsborough) 2020.
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Find treatment.
5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Opioid treatment program directory.
6. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022, April 1). Buprenorphine.
7. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Find a facility.
8. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, January). Where do 12-step or self-help programs fit into drug addiction treatment?
9. Tri-County Central Office Tampa AA. (n.d.). AA meetings in Plant City-Dover.
10. Narcotics Anonymous. (n.d.). NA meeting search.