Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Statistics

Statistical Data on Drugs in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania faces a severe drug crisis that significantly exceeds national averages. The state ranks among the highest in the nation for drug overdose deaths, with opioids being the primary driver of this epidemic. This comprehensive report analyzes drug use patterns, overdose statistics, treatment data, and demographic trends across Pennsylvania, highlighting the ongoing challenges in both rural and urban communities.

Overdose Death Statistics

Overall Overdose Deaths

• 4,377 overdose deaths per year (recent data)
• 35.6 deaths per 100,000 residents – 71.98% higher than national average
• 3.25% of all deaths in Pennsylvania are from drug overdose
• Pennsylvania accounts for 6.22% of nationwide overdose deaths
• 13-15 people die from overdoses daily in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s overdose death rate dramatically exceeds the national average, indicating a severe public health crisis requiring immediate intervention.

Historical Trends

Year	Total Deaths	Rate per 100,000	Key Changes
2017	5,456	43.0	Peak crisis year
2020	4,880	40.9	16% increase from 2019
2021	5,169	43.2	Continued high rates
Recent	4,377	35.6	1% annual decrease trend

National Context

• U.S. overdose deaths (2021-2022): 107,600 estimated for 12-month period
• Pennsylvania vs. U.S. rate increase: PA increased from 18.3 to 43.2 per 100,000 (2011-2021) vs. U.S. from 13.2 to 32.4
• 2009 comparison: PA drug-induced deaths exceeded motor vehicle accidents (1,378) and firearm deaths (1,349)

While recent data shows a slight declining trend, Pennsylvania’s overdose death rates remain critically high and far above national averages.

Opioid Crisis Statistics

Opioid-Specific Deaths

• 2,866 opioid overdose deaths annually
• 23.4 deaths per 100,000 residents – 60.3% above national rate
• Opioids account for 64.9% of all overdose deaths
• 4,081 opioid deaths in 2021 (75% of all drug deaths)
• 4,262 opioid deaths in 2020 (87% of all drug deaths)
• Age-adjusted opioid death rate: Increased from 6.2 per 100,000 (2011) to 32.8 per 100,000 (2021)
• U.S. comparison: PA rate of 32.8 vs. U.S. rate of 24.7 per 100,000 (2021)

Prescription Opioid Impact

• 49.9% of residents have enough prescriptions for one each
• 404,000+ people (3.7% of population 12+) misused prescription painkillers
• 1.48% of hospital births involve neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
• 93,900 cases of hepatitis C attributed to intravenous drug use
• 35,520 cases of HIV/AIDS attributed to intravenous drug use

Prescription Volume and Distribution

• 2.4 million prescriptions for 260 million oxycodone dosage units (2017)
• 1.6 million prescriptions for 146 million hydrocodone dosage units (2017)
• 32 dosage units per Pennsylvanian equivalent (2017)
• County variation: 13.8 (Fulton) to 128.8 (Fayette) prescriptions per 100 persons (2016)
• 60% of counties had prescribing rates above national average (2016)

Prescription Trends

• Oxycodone decline: 6% decrease (2016-2017), 8% decrease (2015-2017)
• Hydrocodone decline: 14% decrease (2016-2017), 24% decrease (2015-2017)

The opioid crisis dominates Pennsylvania’s drug problem, with prescription overprescribing contributing significantly to the epidemic.

Substance-Specific Statistics

Primary Substances Causing Deaths (2020-2022)

Substance	Deaths	Percentage of Cases
Fentanyl	3,080	52-67%
Heroin	1,325	38-45%
Cocaine	1,020	25-32%
Methamphetamine	510	–
Prescription Opioids	–	20-25%
Benzodiazepines	–	31-33%

Fentanyl has become the dominant killer, present in most overdose deaths, often combined with other substances.

Geographic Distribution

Top 5 Counties with Highest Overdose Death Rates (2020)

County	Deaths per 100,000
Philadelphia	60
Allegheny	50
York	40
Fayette	35
Westmoreland	30

Urban vs. Rural Overdose Patterns (2022)

Area Type	Overdoses	Rate per 100,000	Death Rate	Naloxone Use
Rural	1,432	42.3	24%	60%
Urban	3,271	34.0	16%	64%

Rural areas show higher per-capita overdose rates and death rates, with lower naloxone access, indicating healthcare resource disparities.

Drug Use Patterns by Age Group

Youth Drug Use (Ages 12-17)

• 66,000 teens (7.22%) used drugs in the last month
• 84.85% of teen drug users report marijuana use
• 11.92% used marijuana in the last year
• 0.44% used cocaine
• 0.22% used methamphetamines
• 0.05% used heroin
• 1.86% misused pain relievers

Young Adults (Ages 18-25)

• 436,000 adults used drugs in the last month
• 7.98% less likely to use drugs than national average for age group

High School Students (2023) – Marijuana Use

Grade	Lifetime Use 2021	Lifetime Use 2023	30-Day Use 2021	30-Day Use 2023
8th	5.7%	5.6%	2.7%	2.7%
10th	14.8%	12.4%	8.0%	6.8%
12th	30.4%	26.2%	16.8%	14.6%

High School Students – Other Substances (2023)

• 33% have tried marijuana at least once
• 6% have used inhalants
• 3% have used cocaine
• 3% have used painkillers non-medically

Prescription Drug Misuse – High School (2023)

• Pain relievers lifetime misuse: 2.9% (12th grade, down from 3.3% in 2021)
• Pain relievers 30-day misuse: 0.6%
• Prescription drug accessibility: 19.0% report easy access (down from 27.8% in 2015)
• Risk perception: 89.3% see moderate/great risk
• Peer disapproval: 84.7% say friends think it’s wrong
• Prescription stimulants lifetime use: 2.4% (12th grade, down from 9.7% in 2015)

Other Drug Use – High School (2023)

• Synthetic drugs: 1.4% lifetime use (down from 4.8% in 2015)
• Heroin: 0.1% lifetime use (12th grade)
• Hallucinogens: 4.8% lifetime use (12th grade)

Pennsylvania teens show significantly lower drug use rates than national averages, with marijuana being the primary substance of abuse and encouraging downward trends in most categories.

Demographic Characteristics of Overdose Victims

Age Distribution

• Ages 25-34: 30% of overdose deaths (most affected group)
• Ages 35-44: 25% of male deaths, 26% of female deaths
• Ages 45-54: 19% of male deaths, 22% of female deaths
• Ages 15-24: 9% of overdose deaths

Gender Distribution

• Male victims: 68% of overdose deaths
• Female victims: 29% of overdose deaths

Racial/Ethnic Distribution

• White, non-Hispanic: 76% of victims
• Black/African American: 12% of victims
• Hispanic: 3% of victims
• People of color: 11% of victims (increasing trend)

The 25-34 age group is disproportionately affected, and males are more than twice as likely to die from overdoses. The crisis predominantly affects white populations but is increasingly impacting communities of color.

Treatment Statistics

Treatment Admissions (2021)

Primary Substance	Admissions	Percentage	Rate per 100,000
Heroin	4,757	1.4%	56
Methamphetamine	2,173	1.9%	42
Marijuana/Hashish	2,343	1.3%	19
Other Opiates/Synthetics	1,466	1.8%	21
Cocaine	1,040	1.3%	13

Overall Treatment Statistics (2021)

• Total admissions: 18,554 (1.3% of national total)
• Admission rate: 165 per 100,000
• Total discharges: 18,322 (1.4% of national total)
• Discharge rate: 163 per 100,000
• Top 6 substances total: 18,032 admissions, 17,842 discharges

Treatment Infrastructure

• 634 active substance abuse clinics statewide
• 66,969 clients treated annually
• 60,407 clients in outpatient services
• 5,894 clients in residential services
• 668 clients in hospital-based treatment
• 1 facility offers free treatment

Treatment Volume by Type

• Outpatient services: 4.46% of U.S. public total ($103 million)
• Residential services: 6.44% of U.S. public total ($334.2 million)

Treatment Costs

• Outpatient treatment: $1,706 per individual
• Residential treatment: $56,708 per individual
• Total spending: $437.2 million public funds

Historical Treatment Data

• 1998 admissions: 484 per 100,000 (national average: 631)
• 1999-2000 increase: 63,231 to 65,791 admissions (4% increase)
• 2020 admissions: 68,125 total
• State budget allocation (1998): $3.5 billion (14.5% of state budget)

Treatment Demographics (2020)

• Gender: 54% male, 46% female
• Race/Ethnicity: 80% White, 11% Black/African American, 6% Hispanic/Latino
• Median age: 35 years old
• Opioid-related disorders: 58% of admissions

Treatment Modalities (2020)

• Outpatient counseling: 40,000+ individuals
• Inpatient detoxification: 15,000+ individuals
• Residential treatment: 15,000+ individuals

Treatment capacity exists but appears insufficient given the scale of the crisis, with significant cost barriers for residential treatment and geographic access issues.

Treatment Success and Recovery

Treatment Outcomes

• Success rate: Approximately 60% for substance use treatment
• 30,000+ individuals completed treatment programs in 2020
• 80%+ abstinence rate six months post-treatment completion

Average treatment duration:

• Residential: 30 days
• Outpatient: 90 days

Treatment shows good success rates for those who complete programs, but retention and completion rates need improvement given the scale of the crisis.

Naloxone and Emergency Response

Naloxone Administration (2022)

• 60% of rural victims received naloxone
• 64% of urban victims received naloxone

Among those receiving naloxone:

• Rural: 10% died, 90% survived
• Urban: 7% died, 93% survived

Hospital Transport Rates

• 47% of rural victims transported to hospital after naloxone
• 62% of urban victims transported to hospital after naloxone

Naloxone is highly effective in preventing deaths, but rural areas have lower access and transport rates, contributing to higher death rates.

Pennsylvania faces a severe drug overdose crisis with 4,377 deaths annually—a rate 72% higher than the national average—primarily driven by fentanyl and opioids affecting males aged 25-34. While treatment infrastructure exists with 634 clinics showing 60% success rates, it appears insufficient given that over 400,000 residents misuse prescription painkillers and 13-15 people die daily from overdoses. Despite some recent improvements, Pennsylvania’s overdose crisis remains critically severe and demands immediate, comprehensive public health intervention.

Statistical Data on Alcohol in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania faces significant challenges with alcohol-related issues, recording 5,703 annual deaths from excessive alcohol use and spending $2.2 billion in retail alcohol sales in fiscal year 2022-23. While the state’s alcohol death rate remains below the national average, substantial portions of the adult population engage in regular drinking and binge drinking behaviors. This comprehensive analysis examines alcohol consumption patterns, health impacts, demographic trends, and treatment statistics across Pennsylvania.

Overall Alcohol Consumption and Deaths

Annual Alcohol-Related Deaths

• Total Deaths: 5,703 per year
• Death Rate: 5.52 deaths per 10,000 adults (1 death per 2,280 adults aged 18+)
• Pennsylvania vs. National Average: 8.3 per 100,000 (lower than national average of 13.1)
• Under 21 Deaths: 2.7% of total alcohol deaths
• Gender Distribution: 69.0% male, 31.0% female
• Age Distribution: 81.7% are adults aged 35 and older
• Cause Types: 52.4% from chronic causes (Alcohol Use Disorder)

Pennsylvania’s alcohol death rate is lower than the national average, but the state still experiences significant loss of life, with middle-aged and older adults most affected. The predominance of chronic causes indicates long-term alcohol dependency issues.

Years of Life Lost and Economic Impact

• Potential Years Lost: 149,637 years annually
• Economic Cost: $12.885 billion (2022 dollars, equivalent to $2.59 per drink)
• Rate Increase: 45.4% increase in excessive alcohol deaths from 2015-2019

The substantial economic burden and years of life lost demonstrate alcohol’s significant societal impact beyond immediate health costs.

Specific Alcohol-Related Deaths and Incidents

Drunk Driving

• Fatalities: 334 total drunk driving deaths
• Under 21: 29 fatalities

Alcohol Poisoning

Death Rate: 6.5 deaths per 1 million people

Alcohol-Related Deaths by Cause (2015-2019 Average)

• Suicides: 465 deaths
• Homicides: 332 deaths
• Alcohol Dependence Syndrome: 151 deaths
• Coronary Heart Disease: 388 deaths

All Alcohol-Related Causes: 2,717 total deaths

• Male over 21: 1,993 deaths
• Female over 21: 724 deaths
• Male under 21: 112 deaths
• Female under 21: 35 deaths

Alcohol contributes to deaths across multiple categories, with suicide and coronary heart disease being significant contributors beyond direct alcohol poisoning.

Adult Drinking Patterns

General Consumption Rates

• Regular Alcohol Use: 60% of adults consume alcohol regularly
• 30-Day Use: 54.82% reported alcohol use in last 30 days
• Binge Drinking: 28% of total population (18.5% of adults over 18)
• Alcohol Use Disorder: 4% of adults are addicted to alcohol

Binge Drinking Details

• Median Drinks per Binge: 5.5 drinks
• Heavy Drinkers: Top 25% consume 7.9 drinks per binge
• Frequency: Median 1.8 times monthly (heavy drinkers: 3.9 times monthly)

Pennsylvania shows high rates of both regular consumption and problematic drinking, with nearly one-third of adults engaging in binge drinking behaviors.

Youth Alcohol Use

High School Students (2023)

Grade	Lifetime Use	30-Day Use	Binge Drinking
8th Grade	21.5% (above national 20.1%)	–	–
10th Grade	32.5% (below national 35.8%)	11.4% (down from 16.1% in 2021)	3.7% (down from 5.3% in 2021)
12th Grade	–	23.8% (down from 27.4% in 2021)	9.5% (down from 11.8% in 2021)

Gender Differences in High School Use

• 10th Grade: Females 36.1%, Males 31.5%
• 12th Grade: Females 48.1%, Males 43.5%

Additional Youth Statistics

• Students Under 20: 31% had at least one drink in past month
• Binge Drinking: 13% of students under 20 binge drank in past month
• Ages 12-20: 16.87% reported alcohol use in last 30 days
• Driving Under Influence: 2.3% of 12th graders (down from 5.5% in 2017)

Youth drinking rates show encouraging downward trends from 2021 to 2023, though significant portions still engage in alcohol use. Female students report higher lifetime use rates than males.

Demographic Breakdown (2020 Data)

Demographics	Binge Drinking %	At Risk %	Chronic Drinking %
All Adults	17	7	7
Gender
Male	21	8	11
Female	13	7	4
Age Groups
18-29	28	9	9
30-44	23	10	8
45-64	16	8	8
65+	5	3	5
Education
< High School	11	4	4
High School	15	7	7
Some College	20	9	8
College Degree	17	8	8
Income
< $15,000	17	7	8
$15,000-$24,999	9	5	5
$25,000-$49,999	16	6	6
$50,000-$74,999	19	8	10
$75,000+	21	10	9
Race/Ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic	17	8	8
Black, non-Hispanic	17	7	7
Hispanic	16	5	5

Young adults (18-29) show the highest binge drinking rates at 28%. Males are significantly more likely to engage in chronic drinking than females. Higher income brackets correlate with increased binge drinking rates.

Alcohol Access and Perceptions Among Youth

Access and Availability

• Easy Access: 49.3% of seniors report alcohol would be easy to obtain
• Police Detection: 69.7% of 10th graders, 75.1% of 12th graders believe they wouldn’t be caught

Risk Perception and Willingness

• Willingness to Try: 28.2% of seniors willing to try alcohol before age 21 (down from 69.0% in 2015)
• Great Risk Perception: 38.13% perceive 5+ drinks as great risk

Despite easier access to alcohol, youth willingness to try alcohol has dramatically decreased, suggesting improved awareness of risks.

Treatment Admissions and Discharges (2021)

• Alcohol Treatment Admissions: 6,253 (1.5% of state total)
• Rate per 100,000: 165 admissions
• Treatment Discharges: 6,123 (1.6% of state total)
• Discharge Rate per 100,000: 163

Treatment capacity for alcohol exists but represents a small percentage of those potentially needing services, given the high rates of alcohol use disorders.

Alcohol Sales and Economic Data

Retail Sales (2022-23 Fiscal Year)

• Total Retail Sales: $2.2 billion (3.5% increase from previous year)
• Wine and Spirits Spending: $2.5 billion in 2018-19
• Per Capita Consumption: 2.34 gallons per adult
• Craft Breweries: 3.6 per 100,000 drinking-age adults

Top-Selling Products by Dollar Sales

1. Unflavored Vodka: $335+ million
2. American Whiskey: $285 million
3. Tequila: $110 million

Top-Selling Products by Volume

1. Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey (50 mL): 4+ million bottles
2. New Amsterdam Vodka (mini bottles): 2.4 million bottles
3. Tito’s Handmade Vodka: Various volumes

Regional Sales Distribution

• Top 3 Counties: Allegheny, Philadelphia, Montgomery (35% of total state sales)
• Allegheny County: $352+ million (highest spending)
• Red Table Wine in Allegheny: $50+ million

Pennsylvania has a robust alcohol retail market with vodka and whiskey leading sales. The concentration of sales in major metropolitan counties reflects population density and urbanization patterns.

Pennsylvania’s alcohol landscape reveals a complex public health challenge with 5,703 annual deaths from excessive alcohol use and a $12.885 billion economic burden, despite having a lower death rate than the national average. The state shows concerning patterns with 60% of adults consuming alcohol regularly and 28% engaging in binge drinking, particularly affecting young adults aged 18-29 who have the highest binge drinking rates at 28%. While youth drinking trends show encouraging declines from 2021 to 2023, the substantial treatment gap—with only 6,253 alcohol treatment admissions against widespread alcohol use disorders—indicates that Pennsylvania’s $2.2 billion alcohol retail market continues to fuel a significant public health crisis requiring comprehensive intervention strategies.

In general, Pennsylvania faces a dual substance abuse crisis with both drug and alcohol-related deaths creating substantial public health and economic burdens. The state’s drug overdose death rate of 35.6 per 100,000 residents is 72% higher than the national average, with 4,377 annual deaths primarily driven by fentanyl and opioids, while alcohol-related deaths claim 5,703 lives annually with an economic cost of $12.885 billion. Despite having treatment infrastructure with 634 substance abuse clinics and showing 60% success rates for completed programs, the scale of need vastly exceeds current capacity—evidenced by over 400,000 residents misusing prescription painkillers and 28% of adults engaging in binge drinking. The statistics reveal that while some encouraging trends exist, particularly declining youth substance use rates, Pennsylvania’s substance abuse crisis demands immediate, comprehensive public health intervention to address the gap between treatment availability and the overwhelming scope of addiction affecting communities statewide.

Sources:

1. Drug Abuse Statistics
2. Pennsylvania reports sizable decline in overdose deaths, but experts wary
3. Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 2021: Admissions to and Discharges from Substance Use Treatment Services Reported by Single State Agencies
4. PAYS-Highlight-Report-2023-Final.pdf
5. Drug Addiction In Pennsylvania – Stats and Facts | Little Creek Recovery
6. PENNSYLVANIA DRUG CONTROL UPDATE Drug Use Trends in Pennsylvania Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Data
7. Drug Overdoses in Rural and Urban Pennsylvania: A Progress Report
8. Drug Addiction In Pennsylvania | Peace Valley Recovery
9. Drug Overdose Mortality by State
10. The Opioid Threat in Pennsylvania
11. Mental Health and Substance Use State Fact Sheets: Pennsylvania | KFF
12. Pennsylvania Drug Addiction Statistics
13. Pennsylvania Drug Addiction Statistics [2024] at BrighterDay
14. 2020 Behavioral Health Risks of Pennsylvania Adults
15. Rates of Alcohol Use In Pennsylvania
16. Study puts Pennsylvania among nation’s heaviest drinking states | PhillyVoice
17. Alcohol Statistics in Pennsylvania