Drug abuse statistics in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has a population of 12,964,056 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 1,854,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 14.30% of the population. 1,637,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 2,203,000 in the past year. The report also found that 291,000 Pennsylvania residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 137,000 had abused meth, and 454,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 103,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in Pennsylvania totaled 465,000 people.

Alcohol abuse in Pennsylvania

Alcohol misuse was also reported in Pennsylvania with 5,983,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 2,620,000 reporting binge drinking. The perceived risk of people over 12 years of age indulging in problematic alcohol use (5 or more drinks twice a week) in a month was 4,551,000 people.

Overdose deaths in Pennsylvania

In 2021, Pennsylvania saw a total of 5182 recorded drug-related overdose deaths. This includes those that were accidental or unidentifiable but excludes those that were related to suicide or homicide. This puts the overdose death toll in Pennsylvania at 40 people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol-related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 1469 or 11.3 per 100,000 people.

Addiction treatment in Pennsylvania

The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Pennsylvania and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 2,018,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 1,288,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 373,000 people were recorded as having an opioid use disorder including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders. There are also many who have been diagnosed with or reported a substance, illicit drug, or alcohol use disorder that require rehab treatment and are not receiving it. The report found that 817,000 people in Pennsylvania needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 1,282,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 1,802,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.

What treatment options are available in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, you can get addiction treatment to help you reduce your drug use. Effective addiction treatment in Pennsylvania gives you tools to help you manage your substance use disorder or alcohol addiction for the rest of your life.

Most rehab centers do this through education, therapy,  and counseling so that their patients can understand the effects of drug use on their bodies and mind. So choosing the proper treatment for you is crucial.

Pennsylvania rehab centers offer specialized treatments to get to the level of care you need depending on the assessment done by healthcare professionals. The proper treatment will help you control your drug use and live life according to your own terms.

Here are some common treatment methods available in Pennsylvania : 

Various treatment methods will help you at different stages of your recovery process. Some treatment methods are customized based on an individual's unique needs and situations.

What are common drug addictions in Pennsylvania?

The most commonly used and sold drugs in Pennsylvania are cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. A study in Pennsylvania discovered that 28% of adults are binge drinkers, with 4% having alcohol use disorder.

Other increasingly popular abused substances in the state include prescription painkillers, opioids,  and methamphetamine that harm an individual's health and the community. 

Drug addiction in Pennsylvania doesn’t only affect adults. Many teenagers and young adults in the state also struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. According to data collected by the US Department of Health Services, adolescents in Pennsylvania claimed to have used alcohol and drugs like marijuana, inhalants, and cocaine at one point in their lives.

How do I pay for rehab in Pennsylvania?

The cost of rehab varies depending on an individual, whether they are insured, and the type of treatment program they need to manage their addiction.

Using insurance to pay for your rehab treatment can significantly reduce the financial cost of getting help. If you qualify for Medicaid in Pennsylvania, you should choose a treatment facility that accepts Medicaid to get the help you need.

Most Pennsylvania rehab centers also accept military and private insurance coverage. For the uninsured, you can find some free rehab centers in Pennsylvania, thanks to state funding. These centers often have long lines, so you might not get treatment immediately.

What are the alternatives to rehab?

Rehab isn’t for everyone. Due to the high costs of addiction treatment, most people will look for affordable alternatives to help them beat their addiction.

One of the most common alternatives to rehab is meditation which helps with addiction because it can reduce cases of relapse by helping you gain an awareness of your triggers. With so many different therapy treatments,  you can treat your addiction and pick up valuable tools to help you remain sober.

Other alternatives to rehab include intensive outpatient programs and peer recovery groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are very popular and proven to help with recovery.

Government assistance for addiction treatment in Pennsylvania

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs in Pennsylvania Helps you find treatment facilities, drug take-back locations, and nd county office locations where you can seek assistance for your addiction.

The department has our free online tool known as just five, which promotes education and awareness about substance use disorder among Pennsylvania residents. 

With initiatives like recovery rising that help to foster an accessible recovery environment in Pennsylvania, the state is working to prevent substance abuse among people of Pennsylvania and ensure those struggling with addiction get the necessary treatment. 


To get help from the department of drug and alcohol programs, you can contact 1-800-662-HELP(4357).