Detox Centers in Lithia, Florida

Named for the lithium found in the spring waters of the area, Lithia is an unincorporated area located about 25 miles southeast of Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida.^{1, 2} Much of Lithia lies either within the FishHawk community or the Chito Branch Reserve.^{3, 4}

More than 30,000 residents live in the Lithia area, some of who may be struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol.³ Hillsborough County has formed a partnership with the neighboring counties of Pasco, Polk, and Pinellas to address the issues of substance abuse and mental health.⁵ The 4-county coalition developed All4HealthFL, a united effort to reduce substance misuse and improve mental health access in their communities.⁵

Binge drinking is a growing problem in the Fish Hawk-Lithia area.⁶ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines binge drinking as having more than 4 alcoholic drinks for men and 5 drinks for women within 2 hours.⁷ In 2019, almost 22% of adults in the Fish Hawk-Lithia area admitted to binge drinking, which was well over Hillsborough County’s rate of around 18%.⁶ The Fish Hawk-Lithia number had increased by 1% compared to 2018 when approximately 21% of adults in the community admitted to binge drinking.⁶

The use of opioids in Lithia and Hillsborough County is also a concern.⁸ In 2020, 409 Hillsborough County residents died of an opioid overdose, which is almost double the number of opioid overdose deaths in 2019.⁸ The Florida Department of Health also reported that 700 of the 2,064 non-fatal drug overdoses in Hillborough County in 2020 were due to opioids.⁸

The powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl is to blame for about 82% of the opioid overdoses in Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay area.⁹ Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid that is 80 to 100 times more potent than heroin.¹⁰ Many fentanyl overdose deaths are unintentional and happen after another drug is laced with the substance.¹⁰

If you or a loved one are trying to overcome a substance use disorder in the Lithia area, there are 25 treatment facilities within 25 miles where you can find help.¹¹ The options for treatment include:

• 10 facilities that offer detox treatment.
• 22 outpatient centers.
• 8 residential facilities.

There are also 20 facilities with services for a dual diagnosis of substance use disorder and mental health disorder.¹¹

In the state of Florida, there are a total of 712 treatment facilities serving 45,620 clients.¹² The majority of these treatment options are outpatient treatment centers, of which Florida has 587.¹² There are also 80 detox facilities and 215 residential, inpatient facilities within the state.¹²

Overcoming addiction can be a lonely road, but it doesn’t have to be. Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous can be beneficial in your recovery. The Tri-County Central Office has information on AA meetings in Lithia, Hillsborough County, and East Pasco County.

The Tampa Funcoast Area Narcotics Anonymous serves Hillsborough County and provide you with information on NA meetings around the Lithia area.

Sources:

1. Hillsborough County Planning & Growth Management. (1998, October). Hillsborough County historic resources survey report.
2. Google Maps. (n.d.). Directions from Tampa to Lithia.
3. Neighborhood Scout. (n.d.). Lithia, FL – 33547 – Real estate market data.
4. Southwest Florida Water Management District. (n.d.). Chito Branch Reserve | WaterMatters.org.
5. Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County. (2020, March). Community health improvement plan 2020–2025.
6. All4HealthFL. (2019). Adults who binge drink.
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, December 30). Binge drinking.
8. Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Community Health Assessment. (2020, 2019). Substance use dashboard.
9. WTSP Channel 10 Tampa. (2022, March 23). Fentanyl to blame for 82% of opioid overdoses in Tampa Bay area, experts say.
10. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Fentanyl.
11. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
12. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2020). National survey of substance abuse treatment services (N-SSATS): Data on substance abuse treatment facilities.