Blog · Overdose prevention · Phoenixville · Center City Philadelphia · Avondale
Overdose is now a leading cause of death for American adults under 50, and southeastern Pennsylvania has been among the hardest-hit regions in the country.
The statistics matter less than what you do with them. Below are the current numbers, then four concrete things that save lives — including how to get someone into care at our Phoenixville, Center City Philadelphia or Avondale offices, or virtual IOP anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Instant check runs in about 15 seconds. No forms, no waiting on hold.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Noah Bass, MD — Medical Director.
Last updated:
Annual U.S. overdose deaths climbed past 100,000 during the pandemic years and have since begun to decline, driven largely by wider naloxone distribution.[1] Synthetic opioids — overwhelmingly illicit fentanyl — are involved in the majority of those deaths.
Two shifts define the current wave: fentanyl has almost entirely replaced heroin in the supply, and it now appears in cocaine, methamphetamine and counterfeit pills sold as Percocet or Xanax.
Pennsylvania has consistently ranked among the states with the highest overdose death rates. The state publishes county-level data through its Overdose Information Network, and Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties all report hundreds of deaths a year combined.[2]
Xylazine — "tranq" — is now found in a large share of Philadelphia's fentanyl supply. It does not respond to naloxone, which means overdoses last longer and cause severe wounds. Give naloxone anyway: the fentanyl is still what stops breathing.
If you're using alone, don't. Call the Never Use Alone line at 1-800-484-3731, or call us at (610) 233-4342 to start treatment this week.
The instant check reviews pending admissions, therapist caseloads and open group spots across all three Pennsylvania offices and virtual IOP.
Naloxone (Narcan) reverses an opioid overdose in minutes and cannot hurt someone who isn't overdosing. Pennsylvania has a statewide standing order, so any resident can get it at a pharmacy without a personal prescription, and many county programs mail it free.[3]
Test strips detect fentanyl in a dissolved sample of a pill or powder in a couple of minutes. They are legal in Pennsylvania and distributed free by county harm-reduction programs. They aren't a guarantee — fentanyl distributes unevenly — but a positive strip changes decisions.
Families usually notice something is wrong months before anyone says it out loud. Our article on signs of drug abuse covers what to look for, and the family guide to evaluations walks through how to raise it without a blow-up.
Choose the right schedule
Start with the support you need now, then step down as recovery becomes more stable.
About 6 hours a day · 5 days a week
Our most structured outpatient level of care, with a full clinical day at our Phoenixville, Philadelphia or Avondale office while you continue living at home.
Explore our PHP program →9–15 hours a week · Day or evening
A flexible in-person schedule for people who need substantial addiction treatment while balancing work, school, family or a step down from PHP.
Explore our IOP program →Secure online care · Statewide access
Clinically appropriate Pennsylvania residents can join structured groups and therapy from home without traveling to one of our three offices.
Explore our statewide virtual IOP →2215 Kimberton Road, Phoenixville, PA 19460
Serving Phoenixville, Kimberton, Royersford, Collegeville, Spring City, Pottstown, King of Prussia, Norristown, Malvern, Exton, Downingtown and West Chester.
Learn about our Phoenixville office →1026 Winter Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Serving Center City, Chinatown, Washington Square West, Rittenhouse, South Philadelphia, Fishtown, Northern Liberties, University City and the Main Line.
Learn about our Philadelphia office →1284 Gap Newport Pike, Avondale, PA 19311
Serving Avondale, Kennett Square, West Grove, Oxford, Landenberg, Coatesville and the Route 41 corridor of southern Chester County.
Learn about our Avondale office →Virtual IOP is available to residents anywhere in Pennsylvania. Call (610) 233-4342 to ask which option fits your schedule.
Insurance accepted
Don't see your plan? Call (610) 233-4342 — we'll check your benefits.
Need detox or inpatient first?
If you need medical detox or a residential stay before outpatient care, call us — we'll help coordinate placement with trusted partners and plan your step-down into our PHP or IOP when you're ready.
Any pharmacy can dispense it under the state standing order, and county drug and alcohol offices in Chester, Montgomery, Delaware and Philadelphia counties distribute it free, often by mail.
Naloxone does not reverse xylazine, but nearly all tranq in the supply is mixed with fentanyl. Give naloxone, call 911 and provide rescue breaths — sedation may persist after the opioid is reversed.
Pennsylvania's Good Samaritan provisions offer immunity from certain drug-possession charges for people who seek help in good faith during an overdose.
Call us at (610) 233-4342. We'll complete an evaluation, verify insurance, coordinate detox if it's needed, and place them in PHP, IOP or virtual IOP.
CRN evaluation, highway safety school, assessment and treatment — in the order they happen.
Read article →Letting go of resentment, accepting when forgiveness never comes, and rebuilding trust.
Read article →Thousands walk Penn's Landing each fall — what the event is and how to get involved.
Read article →Crisis lines, county resources and same-day treatment options around Phoenixville.
Read article →This article is educational and is not medical advice. If someone is in danger, call 911.
We'll check your benefits, recommend a level of care and tell you what's open this week in Phoenixville, Center City Philadelphia, Avondale or virtual IOP.