Detox Centers in Mango, Florida

Mango is a suburb of Tampa located in Florida’s Hillsborough County. It’s home to a small population of 11,137 people and is said to provide a rich suburban feel to its residents.¹ However, like the rest of the Tampa area and Hillsborough County, Mango has not been counted out from the ongoing opioid epidemic that has swept over the nation. Substance use dependencies involving opioids as well as opioid overdose-related deaths have had a profound impact on Hillsborough County, affecting at least every 5 out of 10 people.²

Recent research has also uncovered the following regarding opioid use in the area:²

• Hillsborough’s opioid overdose rate is as high as 23.3 people per 100,000. This is 9.75% higher than the rest of Florida and 50.5% higher than the rest of the country.
• Approximately 3 people die each day due to opioid-related overdoses, totaling 1,024 deaths in 2019 alone.
• The opioid epidemic has cost the Tampa Bay area an estimated $25 billion in losses and damages. It has also caused about 35,000 workers to be dropped from the labor force.

What’s more, nearly three-quarters of the 254 opioid-related deaths reported in 2021 were attributed to fentanyl—a synthetic opioid—showing up in deceased individuals’ toxicology reports.³ Of those deaths, 9% reportedly involved heroin, 73% involved methamphetamine, and they all had fentanyl in tow.³

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine.⁴ Fentanyl is typically used for medical purposes; however, it’s now also being illegally made in labs and sold on the streets in various forms, including pill form.⁴ What’s more, it’s colorless, odorless, tasteless, incredibly addictive, and very cheap. That’s why it’s frequently used to “cut” other substances, as this extends supplies for higher returns and a guaranteed returning customer base.

Fentanyl’s high potency is what makes it so dangerous. It only takes as little as 2 milligrams to create a lethal dose, meaning that 100 kilograms can potentially cause up to 500,000 overdose-related deaths.⁴ Fentanyl is often mixed with heroin, MDMA, methamphetamine, and cocaine, which means many first-time or recurring users may be ingesting fentanyl in lethal doses unknowingly.

If you or someone you care for is struggling with substance use dependency, several treatment options are within your reach. There are at least 31 treatment facilities within 25 miles of Mango and can be categorized as follows:⁵

• 27 treatment facilities offer outpatient programs.
• 9 treatment facilities offer long-term residential (inpatient) care.
• 24 treatment facilities offer co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder programs.
• 23 treatment facilities offer virtual (telehealth) treatment programs.

As for the rest of the state of Florida, there are currently a total of 712 treatment facilities available.⁶ Of those facilities, 215 offer inpatient care, and 587 offer outpatient care.⁶

Keep in mind that availability for residential treatment varies based on space within each facility. Therefore, you may need to extend your search throughout the rest of the state to find a facility that can accommodate you.

When you are someone you care for is dealing with substance use dependency, immediate support can be found by searching through the Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) local chapter meetings in your area. It’s important to remember that these meetings are not a substitute for treatment. However, they can help you throughout your recovery by offering a foundation of support from other members to help you as you recover.

Meeting times and locations are subject to change. Use the following resources to stay up to date on the meeting schedules in Hillsborough County and the greater Tampa Bay area:

• The Tri-County Central Office of Tampa’s official page
• The Tampa Funcoast Area for NA meetings

Sources:

1. Niche. (n.d.). Mango, Florida.
2. Tampabay.org. (n.d.). Project Opioid Tampa Bay.
3. Baynews9.com. (2021, August 31). Opioid overdoses in Tampa Bay outpacing the rest of Florida.
4. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Facts about fentanyl.
5. FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). Results.
6. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). 2020 state profile – national survey of substance abuse treatment services (N-SSATS).