Admissions for addiction treatment in Pennsylvania increased by more than 6 percent this year, following a 17 percent increase in addiction treatment program admissions the previous year. In the latest year, 92,224 addiction treatment admissions were logged, up from 86,908 in 2003-04 and 74,281 in 2002-03.

Many factors in Pennsylvania pushed the numbers higher. Drug rehab program professionals cited availability of all types of illegal drugs, more numerous employee assistance programs that steer addicts toward addiction treatment programs, and DUI classes where instructors identify people who are in need alcohol treatment programs in Pennsylvania. It is believed that the numbers Pennsylvania is showing are the same on a national basis.

Pennsylvania allocates about $100 million annually to 350 administrative authorities around the state of Pennsylvania to contract with addiction treatment centers to provide drug and alcohol services. If addiction treatment episodes are increasing, then “it is costing the commonwealth of Pennsylvania more money.

Alcohol remains the primary drug of choice among those seeking drug rehab, with 35,155 treatment episodes in the latest year. Drug rehab admissions for people addicted to heroin declined less than 2 percent in the latest year, to 20,668, following a jump of 25 percent from 16,811 in 2002-03 to 21,043 in 2003-04.

Since 1999, Mazzitti and Sullivan, a Harrisburg, Pa-based addiction treatment program in Pennsylvania, has seen a steady rise in the number of people seeking help with heroin addiction and other opiate addictions.
In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area drug rehab programs run by Gaudenzia Inc., one of the largest addiction treatment providers, the number of clients who indicated heroin was their primary drug increased to 26 percent of clients in the most recent year, from 19 percent the previous year.

The statistics highlight the need for healthy funding of drug rehab programs in Pennsylvania, he said. Research has shown that “for every dollar you put into a drug rehab experience, it is about $7 saved somewhere else,” he said. Those savings include money spent on prosecuting and incarcerating drug-using criminals.

If you are looking for a Pennsylvania drug rehab you can call the national drug rehab helpline at 1-800-511-9225.