Lutz, FL Detox and Rehab Centers

Lutz faces problems with substance misuse and addiction like many other cities in Florida and throughout the United States.

Lutz sits in the northernmost part of Hillsborough County just 15 miles north of Tampa. Opioid misuse has been especially problematic in the county since 2015. That year, there were 182 drug overdose deaths in Hillsborough County, nearly 75% of which were caused by opioids.¹ In 2017, the number of drug overdose deaths increased to 229, with more than 78% of those deaths being related to opioids.¹

By June 2018, there were 108 drug overdose deaths in the county, 76% of which were related to opioids.¹ The Hillsborough County medical examiner noted that many opioid-related deaths were being driven by heroin and fentanyl—particularly synthetic fentanyl.¹ In September 2020, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department reported that several kilograms of heroin and fentanyl had been moved into the county every month since late 2019.²

In 2018, the Hillsborough County medical examiner reported seeing a rise in the number of overdose deaths related to cocaine, methamphetamine, and kratom, along with new derivatives of Spice—a type of synthetic marijuana.¹ In December 2021, Florida Poison Control announced that an uptick in Spice use in Hillsborough County led to the hospitalization of 40 people over the course of a few days.³

Though opioid and Spice use is prevalent in Hillsborough County, this region also sees problems with alcohol misuse. In 2017, alcohol was the primary drug of choice used by residents who received addiction treatment in Hillsborough County, which includes Lutz.¹

There are 8 addiction treatment facilities in Lutz and within a 10-mile radius of the city.⁴ This represents less than 1% of the total number of addiction treatment facilities in Florida, of which there are 1,065.⁵ Three facilities in Lutz offer drug and alcohol detox services for those who need supervised withdrawal from these substances.⁴

There are no dedicated opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in Lutz.⁶ However, there are two OTPs just 15 miles away in Tampa for those willing to travel outside of Lutz to receive this specialized opioid addiction treatment.⁶ Additionally, Lutz is home to 75 buprenorphine practitioners who are licensed to prescribe this medication to those in recovery from opioid dependence.⁵ This makes up about 3% of all buprenorphine practitioners in the state of Florida.⁵

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) support group meetings are widely available in Lutz and surrounding areas for those who want to stay closely connected to the recovery community. AA and NA are shown to keep people engaged in treatment and provide these individuals with the ongoing support and encouragement they need to achieve long-term sobriety from drugs and alcohol.⁷

AA does not have meetings in Lutz, however, there are dozens of AA meetings in nearby cities, including in Tampa. Those interested in attending a local AA meeting can review the full list of times and locations on the official website for the Tri-County Central Office Tampa AA.⁸

NA hosts meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Hope Church in Lutz.⁹ Those who want to attend NA meetings at other times and locations can travel to Tampa or other nearby cities, and refer to the official NA website for a full meeting schedule. There are a total of 55 NA meetings in Lutz and within a 10-mile radius.⁹

Sources:

1. Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance. Partnerships For Success Grant Drug Epidemiology Network (DEN) Report Hillsborough County, Florida.
2. WFLA 8 On Your Side Staff. (2020, September 4). Series of overdoses leads detectives to alleged Tampa Bay drug trafficking network.
3. Rodriguez, N. (2021, December 14). Florida Poison Control: 40 hospitalized for severe bleeding after taking ‘spice’ in Hillsborough County.
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Find Treatment.
5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Find a Facility.
6. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Opioid Treatment Program Directory.
7. National Institute on Drug Abuse. What about 12-step programs—Do they work?
8. Tri-County Central Office Tampa AA. Meetings.
9. Narcotics Anonymous. Meeting Search Results.