The United States continues to struggle with an ongoing epidemic. In addition to a global health crisis, the U.S. has an alarmingly high number of drug and alcohol overdoses every year. Even when the risk of overdosing is taken out of the equation, addiction is robbing people of their autonomy, careers, friends, and family all of the time. Sadly, this is happening in large cities and small towns alike, including communities like Hermitage, Pennsylvania.

Hermitage, PA is a quiet city located in Mercer County, roughly an hour’s drive north of Pittsburgh and southeast of Cleveland. As of 2020, the population of Hermitage was 15,603, a decline of approximately 4% since 2010. Despite the relatively small number of full-time residents, Hermitage dates all the way back to 1796, giving the city a long and storied history. However, the town is perhaps best remembered for a devastating hurricane that touched down in 1985. The incident caused widespread damage, killing 18 and injuring hundreds of Hermitage residents in a matter of hours.

Today, Hermitage is celebrated as a quiet, peaceful town on the Western border of Pennsylvania. Even though it has a relatively small population, Hermitage is actually the third-largest city in Pennsylvania based on land area, occupying nearly 30 square miles. Unfortunately, its land area belies a city that has had difficulty recovering from the 2008 financial crisis. Nearly 10% of the population lives below the poverty line, with many more families living paycheck to paycheck. The economic situation has given rise to even greater problems with both prescription and illicit drug addiction, as well as alcohol abuse.

Thankfully, there is still hope for people in cities like Hermitage, Pennsylvania. If you’re looking for a drug rehab facility with inpatient and outpatient services, counseling, detox, and dual diagnosis treatment near Hermitage, PA then Prosperity Haven is just a short drive or phone call away. Prosperity Haven has already helped thousands of individuals and families overcome addiction.

Before reaching out to Prosperity Haven or a similar drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, it is important to understand the complexity of the addiction epidemic in Hermitage. So, in today’s guide, we will cover some of the latest drug abuse statistics in the city, as well as programs utilized to combat the crisis. Additionally, we will discuss some of the most pressing issues faced by people dealing with drug or alcohol addiction in Hermitage, PA.

The Drug Addiction Crisis in Hermitage

The state of Pennsylvania had the third-highest number of drug overdoses in the country in 2017, and it has remained among the worst states for drug overdoses ever since. Opioids make up a large majority of overdoses, though drugs like heroin and crystal meth are widely abused. State-run treatment often requires wait times due to a lack of resources. As a result, as few as 20% of drug abusers in the state seek out treatment. [1]

Fortunately, the Centers of Excellence for Opioid Use Disorder (COE) was created at the state level in 2016 to reduce drug and alcohol overdoses and help more people access treatment. There are 3 COE facilities in Mercer County alone (in addition to rehab centers in the area), increasing the medical access to treatment for abusers. However, this has not completely eliminated the problem for people in Pennsylvania, Mercer County, or the city of Hermitage.

According to reports from the county coroner, Mercer County saw at least 57 drug overdose deaths in 2021 alone, the highest number on record. [2] The city of Hermitage accounts for approximately 15% of Mercer County, though it is unclear exactly how many of these deaths, though it is estimated that about 8 of those deaths came from Hermitage. Based on law enforcement statistics related to illicit drugs in the region, most of these deaths can be attributed to fentanyl.

It’s also important to note that none of these statistics account for the number of alcohol-related deaths in Hermitage or Mercer County. When accounting for alcohol-related deaths, including “deaths of despair” as the county health office has designated suicides and similar deaths, the number almost doubles. Accidental alcohol-related deaths, such as those resulting from DUIs and DWIs, increase the total number of deaths in both Hermitage and Mercer even more.

Hermitage Drug and Alcohol Abuse Vs. the Rest of Pennsylvania

As previously mentioned, Pennsylvania has some of the most alarming drug and alcohol overdose rates in the country. As of the latest statistics, there were approximately 5,075 drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 2020. An overwhelming majority of these deaths (85%) were attributed to opioids. In the same year, Mercer County only accounted for 44 of these deaths, and Hermitage just attributed 3 of those deaths. Though all indicators show that the number of overdoses and deaths have increased at the city, county, and state levels in 2021 and 2022, preliminary numbers have not been confirmed.

By percentage, Hermitage has far lower numbers of drug and alcohol overdoses and deaths than other cities throughout the state. However, the whole of Mercer County is closer to the average rate of overdose deaths in Pennsylvania. For example, Mercer County currently sees about 50 drug and alcohol-related deaths per 100,000 residents. Similar numbers have also been recorded in Washington County, Cambria County, and Luzerne County. However, these statistics are far higher in more densely populated areas, particularly Philadelphia County, which records more than twice as many deaths than Mercer County per 100,000 residents.

In any case, thanks in part to its small population and ease of access to medical treatment, Hermitage sees relatively few drug and alcohol-related deaths compared to the rest of the state. Though overall drug and alcohol abuse have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, experts hope that these numbers will go down as vaccines and other public safety measures take effect. However, the growing opioid epidemic shows no signs of slowing down nationwide, making it increasingly difficult to predict exactly how cities like Hermitage, PA will be able to fight drug and alcohol addiction going forward.

Substance Abuse Treatment & Prevention in Hermitage

Hermitage and the rest of Mercer County primarily rely on state-run programs to treat and prevent substance abuse, particularly the Centers of Excellence for Opioid Use Disorder (COE). According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, these centers work with the local community to help identify drug abuse and encourage abusers to seek out treatment. Trained experts help to keep abusers in treatment and off of drugs, working to improve physical and mental well-being. The COE also refers patients to third-party rehab centers and medical professionals as needed.

Hermitage, Pennsylvania Addiction Statistics

Now that you have a better idea of the broader epidemic currently sweeping Pennsylvania, it is important to look at specific data related to the crisis in Hermitage. These numbers will help provide a more accurate, coherent picture of exactly how drugs and alcohol are affecting local residents. So, here are a few of the latest and most relevant findings in Hermitage, Pennsylvania as of 2022:

• Annual Overdoses: 48
• Cause of Overdose
  • Unspecified Substances: 31%
  • Alcohol: 27%
  • Illicit Substances: 20%
  • Prescription Drugs: 22%
• Annual Drug and Alcohol-Related Deaths: 14

Addiction Recovery Rehab in Hermitage, Pennsylvania

As you can see, small communities throughout Pennsylvania are still affected by the growing drug epidemic. Additionally, alcohol abuse has only increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the total number of overdoses and deaths across the state. In many cases, abusers mix various drugs or drugs and alcohol, which substantially increases the chance of overdose. Sadly, drug and alcohol abuse in Hermitage is no exception, even if the total number of cases is lower than in many other cities in the state.

Fortunately, Hermitage residents can access high-quality drug and alcohol rehabilitation through Prosperity Haven. If you or someone you love is facing addiction and needs help, Prosperity Haven is just a phone call away. For those who want immediate access to inpatient facilities, Prosperity Haven is about an hour’s drive from Heritage. So, if you find that the government facilities in Mercer County do not have the resources to help or you prefer better one-on-one attention, Prosperity Haven is likely your best option in the area.

At Prosperity Haven, we make it easy for victims of drug abuse to be admitted for inpatient or outpatient treatments. In addition to detox and counseling, we offer dual diagnosis treatment, residential inpatient programs, group and family therapy, as well as holistic approaches to address the broader needs of each individual. This way, you can enter one of our treatment plans knowing that we provide the best possible options to help you take the first steps toward total recovery, regardless of your current condition or the length of your addiction.

Are you or someone you love struggling with drug addiction in Hermitage, Pennsylvania? Are you looking for facilities nearby that can help address drug addiction using a wide range of treatments? If so, feel free to contact the experts at Prosperity Haven today.