TABLE OF CONTENTS
There are many different types of rehab programs and treatment options to consider. Here are a few of the decisions you need to make:
The main factors that determine which rehab options will be best for you are the severity of your addiction and your unique personal and financial situation.
For more information on how to make all of these decisions, read our guide to Choosing the Right Rehab
If the cost of rehab is an obstacle for you and you don’t have insurance, there are still ways for you to get the help you need. Out of the 479 rehabilitation facilities in Pennsylvania recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), 73 offer some form of payment assistance to most adults. Of the 73 that offer payment assistance, the Crozer-Chester Recovery Center in Chester (about 20 miles outside of Philadelphia) received the highest overall scores from Help.org.
For more information about the five core metrics, head to the full breakdown of our filtering process and ranking methodology
The Recovery Center of the Crozer-Chester Medical Center offers both outpatient and inpatient treatment options and is located roughly 20 miles outside of Philadelphia. The rehab received an overall score of 8.4, with its highest individual score of 9.23 coming from the number of programs designed for unique demographics. It also includes special circumstance rehabs, such as dual diagnosis for patients with a co-occurring mental disorder. The rehab’s worst performance was on “Treatment Approaches” with a score of 7.5, which was about average for the top performing rehabs.
The Kirkbride Center is located in Philadelphia and offers short and long-term inpatient residential services, as well as medically monitored detoxification. Overall, the rehab earned a score of 7.6, while earning a perfect 10 for the number of rehab services it provides. The rehab’s weakest aspect was in “Cost,” receiving a 4.44 because it doesn’t recognize state-financed insurance outside of Medicare and Medicaid.
The Gaudenzia Together House is also located in Philadelphia and provides both short and long-term residential treatment. The rehab earned a 7.4 ranking, with its highest metric coming from the number of treatment approaches Gaudenzia offers. The rehab’s lowest score, a 5.55, was in the category of “Cost.” The rehab offers a sliding-scale system based on income, but no other payment assistance. It does, however, accept cash, private health insurance, TRICARE, and any other state or federal financed plans.
| Rank | Rehab | Total Score | Contact Information |
| #1 | Recovery Center of Crozer Chester Medical Center | 8.4 | 2600 West 9th Street 1st Floor, Administration Chester, PA 19013 Main Tel: 610-497-7223 |
| #2 | Kirkbride Center | 7.6 | 111 North 49th Street Philadelphia, PA 19139 Main Tel: 215-471-2600 |
| #3 | Gaudenzia Together House | 7.4 | 1306 Spring Garden Street 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th Floors Philadelphia, PA 19123 Main Tel: 215-238-2163 |
| #4 | Pittsburgh Mercy: South 9th Street Campus | 7.2 | 330 South 9th Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203 Main Tel: 412-488-4040 |
| #5 | Wesley Spectrum Washington Office | 7.1 | 90 West Chestnut Street Suite 200 Washington, PA 15301 Main Tel: 724-222-7500 |
| #6 | Pyramid Healthcare | 6.8 | 306 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Main Tel: 412-241-5341 |
| #7 | Choices of Northeastern Pennsylvania | 6.3 | 534 Wyoming Avenue First Floor Kingston, PA 18704 Main Tel: 570-552-3700 |
| #8 | Pittsburgh Mercy: East Commons Street Campus | 6.0 | 412 East Commons Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Main Tel: 412-323-4500 |
| #9 | Familylinks | 5.7 | 250 Shady Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Main Tel: 412-924-0148 |
| #10 | Mercy Philadelphia Hospital | 5.5 | 501 South 54th Street Philadelphia, PA 19143 Main Tel: 215-748-9391 |
If you have private insurance or coverage purchased through the healthcare marketplace, contact your plan provider for to determine precisely what services are covered. If you have Medicaid or would like to find out how to get covered, visit insurance.pa.gov to get started. Whatever type of coverage you have, insurance companies (public and private) are required to cover substance abuse treatment for qualified individuals.
The tool below lists all of the treatment centers in the state of Pennsylvania recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Input your zip code and select the filter icon to find relevant rehabs near you.
If you are pursuing treatment that will be covered by insurance, your first step will likely be scheduling an assessment by a qualified individual such as a therapist or counselor. Most facilities provide assessments, or your primary care provider may be able to refer you. Contact companies in our database above to find out if they will provide this service.
There are many different methods for treating addiction, and the science of studying addiction is constantly improving and changing. However, the core pieces of treatment are generally the same.
For more information on what to expect in treatment, read our guide on the subject
Veterans had substance use disorder in 2015
Veterans face unique challenges that can put them at higher risk for substance abuse than the general population. Factors leading to increased risk include things like PTSD and homelessness. A 2011 TEDS survey found that 1 in 5 Pennsylvania veterans who sought out treatment were homeless.
Veterans have access to additional resources for treatment, and VA benefits often cover the cost. To get help with substance abuse from the VA health care system follow these steps:
For more information, read our guide on Substance Abuse Rehab for Veterans
Binge Drinking
Illicit Drug Usage
8.5% of young people in Pennsylvania used illicit drugs in 2013, while 17% participated in binge drinking. To overcome the challenges that youth face in overcoming substance addiction, some treatment centers provide teen-specific treatment programs. Our database has a filter that allows you to find the closest rehabs that provide that treatment option.
Use the following resources to get a better understanding of three of the biggest dangers to youth: prescription drug abuse, underage drinking, and marijuana use.
Substance abuse and mental health issues tend to go hand-in-hand – the technical term is “co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.” The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that 18% of those with some form of mental health illness also have a substance use disorder, and 39% of those with a substance use disorder also have a mental health disorder.
If you or someone you love is suffering from mental health issues such as depression, PTSD, eating disorders, or severe anxiety there are many resources and ways to get help.
Below are a few ways to get immediate help, as advised by MentalHealth.gov:
Those who have mental health issues and a substance abuse problem may benefit from dual-diagnosis rehabs. Use the appropriate filter in our tool above to find rehab centers with programs designed to meet the unique challenge posed by co-occurring disorders.
Aftercare is often overlooked, but it’s one of the most crucial steps in the rehabilitation process. The chances of relapsing after rehab dramatically rise for individuals who just try and go back to “normal life,” rather than pursuing further treatment in aftercare. There are several types of aftercare including follow-up visits for continued therapy, group therapy, and sober living homes.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) designed the 12-step process for those recovering from an alcohol addiction, and today there are many other 12-step programs for other addictions and issues – Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is one only one example.
The tool below lists the contact information for local organizations that will connect you to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings near you. Since meeting times and locations change periodically, contact the local groups that coordinate the meetings to ensure that the information is up to date.
| Name | City | Program | Telephone | Spanish Hotline |
|---|
Sober living homes (also referred to as recovery residences) are group homes that help recovering addicts transition from treatment facilities to living on their own, while maintaining sobriety. They are especially helpful for those who don’t have a supportive and positive environment to live in after rehab.
Residents can stay for a couple months of for years, as long as they follow the rules and don’t relapse (most homes have a zero tolerance policy for using substances). Other rules usually include completing chores, attending mutual support groups regularly, and paying an equal share of the cost of renting the home.
Some halfway houses are listed in our database, and you can find them by using the appropriate filter in our tool above. Otherwise, head to our guide on sober living homes to learn more about sober living homes, and to find a certified recovery residence near you.
of Pennsylvania residents use marijuana
of Americans use marijuana
12.35% of the Pennsylvanian population uses marijuana every year, which is higher than the national average of 11.09%. In fact, Pennsylvanians used each substance measured in the following table at a higher rate than the rest of the nation.
| Ages: 12-17 | Ages: 18+ | Total | PA % of Population | National % of Population | |
| Alcohol (AUD)* | 24,000 | 675,000 | 699,000 | 6.45% | 5.10% |
| Cocaine | 5,000 | 170,000 | 175,000 | 1.62% | 1.46% |
| Heroin | 1,000 | 58,000 | 59,000 | 0.55% | 0.27% |
| Marijuana | 111,000 | 1,228,000 | 1,339,00 | 12.35% | 11.09% |
* AUD stands for Alcohol Use Disorder. The numbers reflected in the table above are not the number of individuals who use alcohol, but rather those who have an AUD.
of Pennsylvania deaths are caused by drugs and alcohol
of US deaths are caused by drugs and alcohol
The table below shows the number of deaths either caused or partially caused by drugs and alcohol from 2006 to 2015. Although Pennsylvania’s drug use was above the national average, the state’s percentage of drug and alcohol-related deaths for all ages (11.65%) was slightly below the national average of 13.36%.
| Ages: 12-17 | Ages: 18+ | All Ages | |
| Drug-Induced Deaths | 126 | 152,585 | 152,765 |
| Alcohol-Induced Deaths | 10 | 14,796 | 14,810 |
| Total Deaths | 2,548 | 1,422,828 | 1,438,270 |
| Percentage of Drug & Alcohol-Induced Deaths | 5.07% | 11.76% | 11.65% |
of Pennsylvania rehab admissions are for heroin
of US rehab admissions are for heroin
Amongst addicts who went to Pennsylvania state-funded rehabs in 2014, 49% were there because of addiction to heroin and other opiates (37.8% and 11.2%, respectively), which is considerably higher than the national averages (22.1% for heroin, 8.2% for other opiates). However, alcohol addiction was 6.3% lower, and amphetamine addiction was down 7.7% from the national average.
| Total Admissions in Pennsylvania | Percent of all Admissions in New York | Percent of All Admissions in the US | |
| All Substances | 42,205 | 100% | 100% |
| Heroin | 15,962 | 37.8% | 22.1% |
| Alcohol (Including alcohol usage with secondary drug) | 12,604 | 29.9% | 36.2% |
| Marijuana | 5,087 | 12.1% | 15.3% |
| Other Opiates (Including prescription painkillers) | 4,722 | 11.2% | 8.2% |
| Cocaine (Including smoked and other usage) | 2,037 | 4.8% | 5.5% |
| Other/Unknown | 655 | 1.6% | 2.2% |
| Amphetamines (Including methamphetamines) | 487 | 1.2% | 8.9% |
| Tranquilizers | 428 | 1.0% | 0.9% |
| PCP | 106 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Hallucinogens | 61 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Other Stimulants | 22 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Sedatives | 18 | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| Inhalants | 16 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
SAMHSA
When trying to understand the substance abuse problem in a specific area, researchers and policymakers examine “key indicators.” Combined with usage stats, key indicators can provide a deep level of insight into which substances and demographics present the biggest problem and are at the highest risk. Key indicators with recent, credible statistics available are examined below.
Based on data from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 18% of those with some form of mental health illness also have a substance use disorder, and 41% of those with a substance use disorder also have a mental health disorder. The combination of the two issues is called a “dual diagnosis.”
of Pennsylvanians have mental health problems
of Americans have mental health problems
Mental health issues afflict 18.21% of Pennsylvanians, compared to the national average of 13.55%, which could play a role in the state’s elevated drug use compared to the United States as a whole.
| Ages: 12-17 | Percentage of Population | Ages: 18+ | Percentage of Population | |
| Major Depressive Episode | 109,000 | 11.65% | 683,000 | 6.89% |
| Serious Mental Illness | No Data | No Data | 397,000 | 4.01% |
| Any Mental Illness | No Data | No Data | 1,803,000 | 18.21% |
| Had Serious Thoughts of Suicide | No Data | No Data | 407,000 | 4.10% |
Suicide is an act that’s often linked with substance abuse – those who have a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) are six times more likely to attempt suicide during their lifetime than those without a SUD. Compared to the other states, Pennsylvania is ranked 30th for the rate of suicide, averaging 12.5 per 100,000 people.
| Suicides in PA | Suicides Rank | PA Suicide Rate (Per 100k People) | Suicide Rate Rank | U.S. Suicide Rate (Per 100k People) | |
| Ages: 12-17 | 398 | 6th | 4 | 38th | 4.2 |
| Ages: 18+ | 16,098 | 4th | 16.2 | 31st | 16 |
| Total | 16,512 | 4th | 13 | 30th | 12.5 |
The most tangible impact substance abuse has on a community may be when individuals choose to get behind the wheel of a car after using drugs or alcohol.
deaths per 100,000 people involving intoxicated drivers in Pennsylvania
deaths per 100,000 people involving intoxicated drivers in the US
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1.8% of Pennsylvania drivers report driving after drinking too much, which is slightly below the national average of 1.9%. However, the rate of death involving driving under the influence in Pennsylvania is even with the national average at 3.3 per 100,000.
| Ages: 0-20 | Ages: 21-34 | Ages: 35+ | All Ages | |
| Pennsylvania Rate of Deaths (per 100,000) | 1.4 | 7.2 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| United States Rate of Deaths (per 100,000) | 1.3 | 6.7 | 3.1 | 3.3 |
Prescription drug abuse (particularly opioid painkillers and Benzodiazepines) is an increasing problem in the United States. While it is difficult to estimate how many people use these drugs as prescribed and how many abuse them, the CDC and IMS have researched the variation in painkiller prescriptions between states. The more prescriptions are written, the greater the potential for dependence and abuse.
long acting/extended release opioid prescriptions writen per 100 people in Pennsylvania
long acting/extended release opioid prescriptions writen per 100 people in the US
As the table below shows, Pennsylvania ranks fairly high in just about every category of prescription painkillers for the rate of prescriptions written per 100 people, which likely correlates to the state’s elevated rehab admissions for opioid addictions.
| Pennsylvania | National Average | State Rank | |
| Opioid Pain Relievers | 88.2 | 87.3 | 21st |
| Long-Acting/Extended-Release Opioid Pain Relievers | 14.9 | 12.0 | 9th |
| High-Dose Opioid Pain Relievers | 5.4 | 4.5 | 14th |
| Benzodiazepines | 46.1 | 39.2 | 13th |
A high rate of homelessness in an area indicates a greater potential for substance abuse problems. Homelessness has been shown to be linked to substance abuse as both the cause and result.
Pennsylvania has a low homeless rate, averaging 12 per 10,000 people, compared to the national average of 17 per 10,000. Although the homeless rate has been increasing from 2013 to 2016, it’s seen a very slow growth, only increasing from 11.8 to 12 over the four-year span.
“At-Risk Groups” are segments of the population who are especially vulnerable to developing a substance abuse problem, or those who have a higher likelihood of negative outcomes. One of the groups most “at risk” is youth, largely because of the detrimental effects substance abuse can have on a developing brain.
of Pennsylvanian youth had a binge drinking session in 2013
of US youth had a binge drinking session in 2013
Illicit drug use among Pennsylvania’s youth remained below the national average from 2009 to 2013 (which is the most current data), corresponding to the drop in the national average percentage. Conversely, youth binge drinking was consistently a few percentage points above the average for the United States.
| Illicit Drug Use in Pennsylvania | Illicit Drug Use in the U.S. | Binge Alcohol Use in Pennsylvania | Binge Alcohol Use in the U.S. | |
| 2009 – 2010 | 9.5% | 10.1% | 19.9% | 17.5% |
| 2010 – 2011 | 9.3% | 10.1% | 17.8% | 16.3% |
| 2011 – 2012 | 8.9% | 9.8% | 16.8% | 15.6% |
| 2012 – 2013 | 8.5% | 9.2% | 17.0% | 14.7% |
SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Barometer: Pennsylvania, 2014
The following sections provide a deeper look at the substance abuse problem in Pennsylvania by examining key indicators in the five largest cities. Additionally, the three highest-rated rehabs that offer some type of payment assistance near each city are listed.
The three highest rated rehabs in the Philadelphia area that offer payment assistance are listed in the table below, along with each institution’s performance on our core metrics.
| Crozer-Chester Recovery Center | Kirkbride Center | Gaudenzia Together House | |
| Rehabilitation Services Provided | 9.1 | 10 | 6.37 |
| Treatment Approaches | 7.5 | 6.25 | 10 |
| Cost | 7.77 | 4.44 | 5.55 |
| Special Programs for Unique Demographics | 9.23 | 7.81 | 6.39 |
| Ancillary Services | 8.36 | 9.5 | 8.74 |
| Total Score | 8.4 | 7.6 | 7.4 |
of Philadelphia deaths are caused by drugs and alcohol
of Pennsylvania deaths are caused by drugs and alcohol
The percentage of deaths related to drugs and alcohol stands at 11.06% in Philadelphia, lower than the 13.36% national average, and slightly below the state average of 11.65%.
| Ages: 12-17 | Ages: 18+ | All Ages | |
| Drug-Induced Deaths | 10 | 15,999 | 16,021 |
| Alcohol-Induced Deaths | N/A | 1,980 | 1,982 |
| Total Deaths | 414 | 159,504 | 162,738 |
| Percentage of Drug & Alcohol-Induced Deaths | 2.89% | 11.27% | 11.06% |
The total number of homeless people in Philadelphia has increased by 332, but when accounting for the increase in population, the rate of homelessness has only increased from 0.38% to 0.39% since 2012.
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
| Sheltered Homeless | 5,280 | 5,119 | 5,377 | 5,328 | 5,407 |
| Unsheltered Homeless | 500 | 526 | 361 | 670 | 705 |
| Homeless Veterans | 394 | 440 | 357 | 337 | 293 |
| Total Homeless | 5,780 | 5,645 | 5,738 | 5,998 | 6,112 |
The three highest rated rehabs near Pittsburgh that offer payment assistance are listed in the table below, along with each institution’s performance on our core metrics.
| Pittsburgh Mercy | Wesley Spectrum | Pyramid Healthcare | |
| Rehabilitation Services Provided | 7.28 | 5.46 | 8.19 |
| Treatment Approaches | 7.5 | 8.75 | 7.5 |
| Cost | 6.66 | 5.55 | 8.88 |
| Special Programs for Unique Demographics | 5.68 | 10 | 0 |
| Ancillary Services | 9.12 | 6.84 | 7.22 |
| Total Score | 7.2 | 7.1 | 6.8 |
of Pittsburgh deaths are caused by drugs and alcohol
of Pennsylvania deaths are caused by drugs and alcohol
The average of drug and alcohol-related death in the Pittsburgh area is 11.26%, over 2 percentage points lower than the national average, but barely below the state average of 11.65%.
| Ages: 12-17 | Ages: 18+ | All Ages | |
| Drug-Induced Deaths | 15 | 15,590 | 15,610 |
| Alcohol-Induced Deaths | N/A | 1,828 | 1,828 |
| Total Deaths | 219 | 153,417 | 154,762 |
| Percentage of Drug & Alcohol-Induced Deaths | 6.85% | 11.35% | 11.26% |
The total number of homeless people dropped from 1,376 to 1,156 over the course of 5 years with a significant spike in 2014. Since 2014, there’s been a sharp decline in homelessness in the Pittsburgh area.
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
| Sheltered Homeless | 1,320 | 1,401 | 1,465 | 1,386 | 1,108 |
| Unsheltered Homeless | 56 | 91 | 108 | 38 | 48 |
| Homeless Veterans | 214 | 207 | 231 | 216 | 167 |
| Total Homeless | 1,376 | 1,492 | 1,573 | 1,424 | 1,156 |
The table below shows the three highest rated treatment centers that offer payment assistance in or near Allentown, along with each institution’s performance on our core metrics.
| MARS-ATP | Treatment Trends, Inc. | NHS Montgomery County | |
| Rehabilitation Services Provided | 1.82 | 1.82 | 5.46 |
| Treatment Approaches | 7.5 | 7.5 | 2.5 |
| Cost | 4.44 | 3.33 | 1.11 |
| Special Programs for Unique Demographics | 4.97 | 3.55 | 1.42 |
| Ancillary Services | 5.32 | 2.66 | 2.66 |
| Total Score | 4.6 | 3.9 | 3.0 |
of Allentown deaths are caused by drugs and alcohol
of Pennsylvania deaths are caused by drugs and alcohol
Allentown’s rate of alcohol and drug-related death (12.76%) is the slightly below the national average of 13.36% and is above the statewide average of 11.65%.
| Ages: 12-17 | Ages: 18+ | All Ages | |
| Drug-Induced Deaths | N/A | 4,251 | 4,255 |
| Alcohol-Induced Deaths | N/A | 445 | 445 |
| Total Deaths | 70 | 36,375 | 36,808 |
| Percentage of Drug & Alcohol-Induced Deaths | 5.71% | 12.9% | 12.76% |
The Department of Housing and Urban Development groups Allentown and Lehigh County into the broad grouping of Eastern Pennsylvania. This area has seen a sharp rise in homelessness, rising from 1,752 in 2012 to 2,599 in 2016.
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
| Sheltered Homeless | 1,621 | 1,764 | 1,786 | 1,994 | 1,996 |
| Unsheltered Homeless | 131 | 317 | 235 | 416 | 603 |
| Homeless Veterans | 88 | 136 | 103 | 150 | 111 |
| Total Homeless | 1,752 | 2,081 | 2,021 | 2,410 | 2,599 |
If you’re struggling with an addiction, there’s help and treatment to be found in Pennsylvania. To get started, take the necessary steps to determine what your insurance covers, or if you qualify for subsidized insurance. Then use our tool to find and contact a rehab center near you to schedule an assessment. Remember, many low-cost rehab centers can help if you don’t have insurance coverage or feel that rehab is out of the question due to financial constraints.