Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Allentown, PA

Each year, alcohol and drug rehab facilities near Allentown, Pennsylvania, help more than 1,000 people begin lives without substances of abuse. Support groups and other organizations in Lehigh County are available to help people find treatment and recover from addiction.

Find Rehab & Recovery Support in Allentown

Lehigh County is home to inpatient and outpatient facilities that treat people with substance use disorders. Most of the facilities are in Allentown, but other rehab centers in Bethlehem and Fountain Hill are within driving distance. Individuals can also seek peer support from Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Recovery meetings are held throughout Lehigh Valley during any time of day, every day of the week

Group therapy meeting

Intervention & Referral Programs

Multiple programs in Lehigh County attempt to identify individuals at high risk for substance abuse problems or relapse and connect them with appropriate resources. The programs aim to prevent and treat substance use disorders.

Lehigh Valley County Community Correctional Center

Eligible offenders can avoid incarceration by completing an eight-week court-ordered rehab program at the Lehigh Valley County Community Correctional Center. The program includes discussions on substance abuse, criminal behavior and other subjects. The center also connects participants with extended care when necessary.

CHOICES

CHOICES is a program that helps educators recognize adolescents at high risk for substance abuse problems in Lehigh County middle and high schools. In addition to alcohol or drug abuse issues, CHOICES addresses attendance, peer conflict and disciplinary problems. Early data indicate that the program helps students improve academically and behaviorally.

Lehigh County Outreach Programs

The Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Program comprises officers in the Allentown Police Department and professional outreach workers. Officers refer residents with substance use issues to outreach workers who connect the individual with appropriate treatment resources.

Outside University campus in the fall

Lehigh County Prevention & Treatment Services for College Students

Higher-learning institutions in Lehigh County provide a variety of resources for students, faculty or staff members experiencing substance abuse issues. Lehigh Carbon Community College, Muhlenberg College and Cedar Crest College each provide short-term or crisis counseling for students with alcohol or drug concerns. They refer students to community providers for long-term care.

The schools host various prevention and educational programs throughout the year to raise awareness about alcohol and other drugs on campus. They also provide basic assessments for substance abuse or other mental health disorders.

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DeSales University

The Counseling Center at DeSales University in Center Valley provides short-term individual and group counseling for students with alcohol or drug issues. The center also refers students to support groups or rehab facilities in the community.

The university also has numerous prevention, awareness and support activities, including:

  • A mandatory online alcohol assessment and education program
  • Alcohol task force meetings that include students, faculty and staff
  • A peer counseling and alcohol awareness campaign
  • Speakers on alcohol and other drug issues
  • Wellness training for residential advisors and students living in residence halls
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Drug-Free Activities in Lehigh Valley

There are several ways to have fun in Allentown, whether you’re attending rehab or you’re in long-term recovery. The city has numerous indoor and outdoor recreational activities that are available throughout the year.

Picture of Coca-Cola Park
Sporting arenas and locations in Allentown include:
  • Allentown Municipal Golf Course
  • Coca-Cola Park, home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs baseball team
  • The PPL Center, home of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey team and the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks arena football team
The Liberty Bell
Interesting museums and cultural centers include:
  • America on Wheels Museum
  • Allentown Art Museum
  • Da Vinci Science Center
  • Mack Trucks Historical Museum
  • Liberty Bell Memorial Museum
Dorney Park
Other outdoor activities and sites include:
  • Allentown Fish Hatchery
  • Cedar Beach Park
  • Malcolm Gross Rose Garden
  • Trexler Memorial Park
  • The Dorney Park & Wildewater Kingdom amusement park
View of town in forested valley

Drug Use and Treatment Admissions Trends in Lehigh County

In a 2016 poll conducted by the Morning Call newspaper and Muhlenberg College, 43 percent of Lehigh Valley residents said they personally knew someone with a heroin or other opioid addiction.

“That tells you this epidemic — and it is an epidemic — has reached the public consciousness,” Chris Borick, director of Muhlenberg College’s Institute of Public Opinion, told the Morning Call. “They’re seeing it … And in many cases, they’re experiencing it.”

More than 1,000 people sought treatment for substance abuse issues in Lehigh County in 2015. Of those admissions, 708 were for drug abuse and 313 were for alcohol abuse, according to the 2015 Pennsylvania State Coroners Association Drug Report.

A total of 115 people died drug-related deaths that year, up from 88 in 2014. The majority of deaths occurred between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., but no particular weekday was associated with significantly more drug deaths than another.

The racial profiles of those who died were similar to the county’s demographic profile. More than 80 percent of people who died were white. Almost 20 percent were Hispanic, and less than 10 percent were black.

The coroner’s report did not list specific drugs at the county level, but it did categorize drugs into groups.

In 2015, the most common drug types involved in drug-related deaths in Lehigh County were:

Illicit drugs
20%
Opioids
17%
Benzodiazepines
16%
Antidepressants
15%
Stimulants
10%

It was impossible to determine whether the prescription drugs found in the toxicology reports were legally prescribed or obtained illegally.

Lehigh County Logo

Lehigh County Youth Survey Results

Middle school and high school students in Lehigh County used alcohol more than any other drug during the past six years, according to the 2015 Pennsylvania Youth Survey. However, lifetime and past 30-day use of alcohol dropped significantly among Lehigh County youth between 2011 and 2015. Youth use of marijuana, cigarettes and inhalants also declined during the same time frame.

In 2015, rates of lifetime use of the most commonly used drugs were:

Inhalants
4.3%
Cigarettes
9.3%
Marijuana
9.8%
Alcohol
32.1%

Lifetime use of steroids, prescription narcotics, prescription tranquilizers, prescription stimulants and over-the-counter drugs was below 5 percent.

View of forested mountain range

Community Prevention Programs

Nonprofit and government-assisted organizations in Allentown and neighboring communities strive to prevent alcohol and other drug problems through education and awareness activities.

Allentown Health Bureau Logo

Lehigh Valley Prescription Drug Take-Back Program

Prescription drug take-back programs allow residents to safely dispose of unwanted prescription drugs. The goal is to reduce the amount of addictive substances on the street. Seventeen locations in Lehigh County accept prescription drugs.

Before the 2016 National Drug Take Back Day, Allentown Health Bureau Injury Prevention Manager David Synnamon issued a statement on the impact drug take-back programs can have.

“Taking the simple step of cleaning out your medicine cabinet of old and unwanted prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines can significantly reduce the possibility of an accidental poisoning or intentional misuse by a family member or visitor to your home,” Synnamon said.

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Center for Humanistic Change

The Center for Humanistic Change implements substance abuse prevention programs in Lehigh County classrooms and community sites. The programs focus on life skills, parenting education, violence reduction and other topics.

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Valley Youth House

With county assistance, the Valley Youth House provides alcohol and drug prevention services to children and teens. The services are presented through classrooms or community programs, and some services use creative activities such as dance.

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Lehigh Valley SADD

The Lehigh Valley chapter of Student’s Against Destructive Decisions is composed of students in Lehigh and Northampton counties. The students provide peer support and educational activities on substance abuse and other high-risk behaviors to encourage teens to pursue healthy lifestyles. The chapter receives technical assistance from Valley Youth House.

Other Rehab & Treatment Options Nearby

Phillipsburg, New Jersey bridge and river

Phillipsburg

New Jersey - 16 miles away

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania city lit up a night

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania - 48 miles away

Flowing creek in the woods in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Camden & Cherry Hill

New Jersey - 51 miles away

Newark, New Jersey city skyline

Newark

New Jersey - 69 miles away

New York City aerial view of city and Central Park

New York City

New York - 78 miles away

Baltimore, Maryland downtown city skyline

Baltimore

Maryland - 111 miles away

Annapolis, Maryland downtown at sunset

Annapolis

Maryland - 125 miles away

Bowie, Maryland downtown street

Bowie

Maryland - 134 miles away

Washington, D.C. downtown at night

Washington, D.C.

145 miles away

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