Squirrel Hill, PA is a neighborhood falling on the east side of Pittsburgh, though it is large enough to be considered a metropolitan city in its own right. Taking up an area of nearly 4 square miles, Squirrel Hill has a population of over 26,000 full-time residents. And while Squirrel Hill is officially divided into two segments — North Squirrel Hill and South Squirrel Hill — it is commonly treated as one neighborhood.

The Pittsburgh neighborhood dates back centuries, making it one of the oldest settlements in the region. In fact, the exact origins of Squirrel Hill are something of a mystery. No one is quite sure where the name came from, though historians speculate that Native American tribes in the region may have created the name “Squirrel Hill” decades before European settlers ever arrived. The neighborhood is known for its dense population of black squirrels, which is likely where the name came from so many years ago.

Squirrel Hill officially came into being sometime around 1760 when the first house was built. However, it would take several years before more houses began to populate the area. For history buffs, Squirrel Hill is a treasure trove of unique monuments, from old cemeteries to original colonial homes. To this day, you can even visit the first house of Squirrel Hill, built by Colonel James Burd.

By the early 1800s, the settlement had begun to develop beyond its very remote and humble roots. Between 1820 and 1860, Squirrel Hill saw the addition of a tavern, farm, nursery, and several mansions for its wealthiest residents. Following the American Civil War, Squirrel Hill was incorporated into the city of Pittsburgh. Even though the Squirrel Hill neighborhood was historically known for its many farms and orchards, it also became a hub for business and trade throughout the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

Today, Squirrel Hill has a thriving, diverse community and is a major contributor to the larger economy of Pittsburgh. The suburb is supported by a strong public school system, which has helped keep both education and prosperity high in the area. However, these factors have not stopped drugs and alcohol from wreaking havoc on Squirrel Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Fortunately, residents of Squirrel Hill have access to various drug and alcohol treatment resources. If you live in Squirrel Hill (North or South) and you are looking for a high-quality drug rehab facility, Prosperity Haven is just a short drive or phone call away. Prosperity Haven has already helped dozens of families from the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, making it one of the top providers of drug and alcohol treatment in the area.

However, it is important to understand exactly how drugs and alcohol have affected (and continue to affect) residents of Squirrel Hill. The entire country is still in the midst of an opioid crisis, and Squirrel Hill has not escaped its grasp. So, in today’s guide, we will cover some of the most pertinent facts and data points related to drug and alcohol addiction in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania.

The Drug Addiction Crisis in Squirrel Hill

Like the rest of Pittsburgh, Squirrel Hill is part of Allegheny County. Consequently, much of the data concerning substance abuse in Squirrel Hill is rolled into the numbers for the entire county. According to the most recent findings out of Allegheny County, the region has seen a surge in drug and alcohol overdoses. In 2018, the county saw 492 overdose-related deaths.

That figure increased by roughly 15%, with 564 deaths occurring in 2019. [1] Based on nationwide statistics and preliminary data from 2020, those numbers are believed to have risen dramatically during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some experts estimate that Allegheny County saw at least a 44% increase in drug-related deaths between 2019 and 2021. And though the numbers are not concrete, the estimated drug deaths have continued to rise at an alarming rate throughout the pandemic, with at least 719 deaths in 2021 alone.

Looking closely at the types of overdoses occurring in Allegheny County, it is readily apparent that no one drug is to blame. In fact, roughly 80% of the overdose deaths in the county involved two or more drugs. That said, more than 87% of these overdose deaths involved opioids, making this class of drugs one of the top killers in Squirrel Hill and most of the other neighborhoods of Pittsburgh.

Squirrel Hill Drug and Alcohol Abuse Vs. the Rest of Pennsylvania

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, 17% of adults in the state report binge drinking alcohol on a regular basis. [2] This has contributed to an uptick in both alcohol and drug-related deaths, particularly in metropolitan areas like Squirrel Hill. The use of alcohol in combination with opioids or street drugs only increases the chances of overdose and death.

In 2021, 5,168 people died of accidental drug overdoses in the state of Pennsylvania. [3] While Allegheny County makes up less than 10% of the population of Pennsylvania, it accounts for roughly 14% of the state’s overdose deaths. Squirrel Hill is a relatively small neighborhood when compared to all of Allegheny County, but it has still contributed dozens of overdose deaths to these figures over recent years.

Substance Abuse Treatment & Prevention in Squirrel Hill

As previously mentioned, Squirrel Hill residents have access to various drug and alcohol treatment centers and resources. However, like many cities and neighborhoods throughout Pennsylvania, Squirrel Hill also depends on many state-run programs for assistance. One of the biggest agencies in Pennsylvania is the Centers of Excellence for Opioid Use Disorder (COE). In addition to providing resources for addicts seeking help, these agencies also refer patients to local third-party rehab centers, including Prosperity Haven.

Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania Addiction Statistics

Even though Squirrel Hill is not a huge suburb of Pittsburgh, it has had many instances of substance abuse and overdose deaths. And while it is easy to discuss the problem in more abstract terms, it is best to use the hard facts to get an accurate picture of what is happening in the local community. So, here are a few of the latest and most relevant findings in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania:

• Annual Overdoses: 18
• Cause of Overdose
  • Unspecified Substances: 45%
  • Illicit Substances: 27%
  • Prescription Drugs: 28%
• Annual Drug and Alcohol-Related Deaths: 7

Addiction Recovery Rehab in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania

If you’ve spent any time enjoying the historic streets of Squirrel Hill, PA, it is hard to imagine that such a thriving and idyllic community would still grapple with drug and alcohol addiction. However, it is important to remember that addiction can afflict anyone, regardless of race, religious beliefs, education, or socioeconomic status. Moreover, the combination of the rising opioid crisis in the U.S. and the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has only made addiction more common in Squirrel Hill and other communities throughout Pennsylvania.

Thankfully, the people of Squirrel Hill can quickly seek out help and treatment from the experts at Prosperity Haven, in addition to state-run addiction programs. If you choose to work with the trained professionals at Prosperity Haven, you can access both inpatient and outpatient facilities, as well as many individual and group-based treatments. In fact, Prosperity Haven offers some of the most comprehensive and highly-regarded addiction services in the region. So, even though our facilities are about a two-hour drive from Squirrel Hill, it is well worth the effort.

At Prosperity Haven, our top priorities are your sobriety, health, and comfort. Addiction requires a delicate balance between therapeutic care and medical intervention. For this reason, we offer detox facilities, counseling, 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 get the help you need in one place. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call Prosperity Haven to take the first step toward recovery.

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