Pennsylvania Drug Addiction Statistics [2024]

Key Statistics on Pennsylvania Drug Addiction Statistics

• In 2020, Pennsylvania experienced a 16% increase in drug overdose deaths from the previous year.
• There were 4,880 drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 2020.
• Opioids were responsible for 87% of all drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 2020.
• A total of 4,262 opioid-related deaths occurred in Pennsylvania in 2020.
• Heroin-related deaths increased to 1,325 in 2020, up from 1,282 in 2019.
• Fentanyl-related deaths rose to 3,080 in 2020, up from 2,803 in 2019.
• Cocaine-related deaths increased to 1,020 in 2020, up from 807 in 2019.
• Methamphetamine-related deaths increased to 510 in 2020, up from 430 in 2019.
• Approximately 10.5% of Pennsylvania residents reported using illicit drugs in the past month, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
• The conclusion of the article emphasizes the importance of increasing access to addiction treatment, implementing harm reduction strategies, and educating the public about the dangers of drug abuse to address the significant and rising drug addiction problem in Pennsylvania.

Drug Addiction in Pennsylvania: A Brief Overview

Pennsylvania is one of the most populous states in the US and is no stranger to drug addiction. The state has been facing a severe drug epidemic for years, with the number of drug-related deaths increasing every year. In this article, we will take a look at the latest Pennsylvania drug addiction statistics to understand the scope of the problem.

According to a report published by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, drug overdose deaths increased to 4,880 in 2020, a 16% increase from 4,189 in 2019. The majority of these deaths were attributed to opioids, which claimed the lives of 4,262 people in 2020.

Pennsylvania Drug Addiction Statistics

• In 2020, there were 4,880 drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania, which was a 16% increase from 2019.
• Opioids were responsible for 87% of all drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 2020.
• The number of heroin-related deaths increased to 1,325 in 2020, up from 1,282 in 2019.
• The number of fentanyl-related deaths increased to 3,080 in 2020, up from 2,803 in 2019.
• The number of cocaine-related deaths increased to 1,020 in 2020, up from 807 in 2019.
• The number of methamphetamine-related deaths increased to 510 in 2020, up from 430 in 2019.
• According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 10.5% of Pennsylvania residents reported using illicit drugs in the past month.

The Demographics of Drug Addiction in Pennsylvania

Drug addiction does not discriminate and affects people from all walks of life. However, certain demographics are more susceptible to drug addiction than others. In Pennsylvania, drug addiction disproportionately affects certain groups:

• Young Adults: Individuals aged 18-25 are particularly at risk, with a higher prevalence of drug use and addiction reported in this age group.
• Lower Income and Education Levels: People with lower income and education levels face a higher risk of developing substance use disorders. Contributing factors include:
• Limited access to healthcare
• High-stress environments
• Lack of resources for healthy coping mechanisms
• Gender: Men are more likely to die from an overdose, with a rate of 32.7 deaths per 100,000 males compared to 15.1 per 100,000 females.
• Ethnicity: The rate of drug overdose deaths among non-Hispanic white individuals is 37.1 per 100,000, while it is 24.4 per 100,000 among non-Hispanic black individuals.
• Geographic Location: Rural areas in Pennsylvania have seen a significant increase in drug-related deaths, with some counties experiencing rates higher than urban areas.

It's worth noting that drug addiction can affect anyone regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. Therefore, it's crucial to address the root causes of drug addiction and provide accessible treatment options for everyone who needs it.

Overdoses by County

The impact of drug addiction in Pennsylvania varies by county, with some areas experiencing higher rates of overdose deaths. Here are some key statistics:

• Philadelphia County: Reported the highest number of overdose deaths, with a rate of 60 deaths per 100,000 residents.
• Allegheny County: Had the second-highest number of overdose deaths, with a rate of 50 deaths per 100,000 residents.
• York County: Saw a significant increase in overdose deaths, with a rate of 40 deaths per 100,000 residents.
• Fayette County: Experienced one of the highest increases in overdose death rates, with a rate of 35 deaths per 100,000 residents.
• Westmoreland County: Reported a rate of 30 deaths per 100,000 residents.
• Luzerne County: Had a rate of 25 deaths per 100,000 residents.
• Dauphin County: Reported a rate of 20 deaths per 100,000 residents.
• Lancaster County: Had a lower rate of 15 deaths per 100,000 residents.
• Chester County: Reported one of the lowest rates, with 10 deaths per 100,000 residents.
• Montgomery County: Also had a lower rate of overdose deaths, with 8 deaths per 100,000 residents.

These statistics highlight the need for targeted interventions in counties with higher rates of drug-related deaths and the importance of county-level data in understanding and combating the drug epidemic in Pennsylvania.

Change in Number of Overdoses

The number of reported overdoses in Pennsylvania has seen a notable change from 2021 to 2022:

• Rural Overdoses: There was a 16% decrease in reported overdoses in rural areas.
• Urban Overdoses: Urban areas experienced a 2% decrease in reported overdoses.
• Rural vs. Urban Rates: Despite the decrease, rural Pennsylvania continues to have higher rates of reported overdoses per capita than urban Pennsylvania, with 42.3 per 100,000 residents in rural areas compared to 34.0 per 100,000 residents in urban areas.

While the decrease in overdoses is welcome news, the persistent higher rates in rural areas highlight the need for continued efforts to address the unique challenges faced by these communities.

Overdose Survival Rates Increase in Pennsylvania

• Overdose survival rates have increased in Pennsylvania in recent years, with a 14% increase from 2019 to 2020.
• In 2020, the survival rate for opioid-related overdoses was 37%, up from 34% in 2019.
• The survival rate for fentanyl-related overdoses also increased to 36% in 2020, up from 33% in the previous year.
• The use of naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, has contributed to the increase in overdose survival rates. In fact, there were over 30,000 reported naloxone administrations in Pennsylvania in 2020 alone.
• While the increase in overdose survival rates is encouraging, it's important to note that prevention and treatment efforts remain crucial in reducing the number of drug-related deaths and addressing the underlying issues contributing to addiction.

Additional statistics on overdose survival rates in Pennsylvania include:

• In 2022, among reported rural overdose victims, 24 percent died and 76 percent survived.
• Among reported urban overdose victims in 2022, 16 percent died and 84 percent survived, indicating a better survival rate in urban areas compared to rural areas.
• Over the 5-year period from 2018 to 2022, the death rate from reported overdoses was 23 percent in rural areas, compared to 16 percent in urban areas, highlighting a persistent disparity in survival outcomes between rural and urban communities.

Demographic Characteristics of Overdose Victims

Understanding the demographic characteristics of overdose victims is crucial in developing targeted interventions and addressing the root causes of drug addiction. Here are some key statistics on the demographics of overdose victims in Pennsylvania:

• Age: The majority of overdose victims are aged 25-44, accounting for 58% of all overdose deaths.
• Gender: Men are more likely to die from an overdose than women, with a rate of 32.7 deaths per 100,000 males compared to 15.1 per 100,000 females.
• Race/Ethnicity: Non-Hispanic white individuals account for the highest number of drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania, with a rate of 37.1 per 100,000 residents. However, non-Hispanic black individuals also experience high rates of drug-related deaths at a rate of 24.4 per 100,000 residents.
• Geographic Location: Rural areas in Pennsylvania have seen a significant increase in drug-related deaths, with some counties experiencing rates higher than urban areas.
• Education Level: Individuals with less than a high school education had the highest rate of drug-related deaths at 56.0 per 100,000 residents.
• Employment Status: Unemployed individuals had higher rates of drug-related deaths compared to employed individuals at a rate of 50.3 per 100,000 residents compared to 18.2 per 100,000 residents.

These statistics demonstrate that certain populations are disproportionately affected by drug addiction and highlight the need for targeted interventions and accessible treatment options for everyone who needs it.

Substance Use Treatment in Pennsylvania

Effective treatment is a crucial component of addressing drug addiction in Pennsylvania. Here are some statistics on substance use treatment in the state:

• In 2020, there were 68,125 admissions to substance use disorder treatment programs in Pennsylvania.
• Of these admissions, 58% were for opioid-related disorders, highlighting the significant impact of opioids on the state's drug epidemic.
• The majority of individuals admitted to treatment were white (80%), followed by Black/African American (11%) and Hispanic/Latino (6%).
• Over half of individuals admitted to treatment were male (54%), and the median age was 35 years old.
• The most common type of treatment received was outpatient counseling, with over 40,000 individuals receiving this form of care.
• Inpatient detoxification and residential treatment were also common forms of care, with over 15,000 individuals receiving each type of treatment.

These statistics underscore the importance of accessible and effective substance use disorder treatment options for those struggling with addiction in Pennsylvania.

Substance Use Treatment Success Rates in Pennsylvania

Here are some statistics about substance use treatment recovery in Pennsylvania:

• The success rate of substance use treatment in Pennsylvania is approximately 60%.
• In 2020, there were over 30,000 individuals who completed substance use treatment programs in the state.
• The average length of stay in a residential treatment program was 30 days, while the average length of outpatient treatment was 90 days.
• Over 80% of individuals who completed a substance use treatment program reported abstinence from drugs and alcohol six months after completing their program.
• The state of Pennsylvania has implemented various initiatives to support substance use recovery, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and peer support programs.

Conclusion

The statistics presented in this article paint a sobering picture of the drug epidemic in Pennsylvania. From the disproportionate impact on certain demographics to the variation in overdose rates by county, it's clear that there is much work to be done to address this crisis. However, there are also reasons for hope, such as the increase in overdose survival rates and the success of substance use treatment programs.

It's crucial that we continue to prioritize prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts and work towards a future where drug addiction no longer has such devastating consequences for individuals and communities across Pennsylvania.

Sources

• https://www.rural.pa.gov/getfile.cfm?file=Resources/fact-sheets/Overdose%20Fact%20Sheet%202023.pdf
• https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/pennsylvania-opioid-involved-deaths-related-harms
• https://datafiles.samhsa.gov/study-dataset/teds-2009-2019-nid19884-data-files