Expert Insights
A new program was recently funded in Leigh County to allow some inmates incarcerated in county jails to continue receiving medication for opioid use withdrawal while in custody.
Access to such medications has typically been limited or non-existent in jails and prisons, and the outcome has been a painful, forced withdrawal and an increase in opioid overdoses following release. Once this inhumane, dangerous, and unacceptable practice of withholding medication is corrected, lives will be saved.
How We Rank Listings
Every facility on this page is drawn from our directory of licensed and accredited treatment providers serving Allentown and the surrounding Lehigh Valley. Listings are organized to help you compare real options by the care they provide, the people they serve, and the ways they accept payment, rather than to reward whoever paid the most.
We give weight to providers that hold recognized third-party accreditation, maintain current Pennsylvania licensure through the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and publish clear information about their services. Where a program offers medication-assisted treatment, specialized tracks, or financial assistance, we surface those details so they factor into your decision. Sponsored placements are labeled as such, and a listing’s position is not a clinical endorsement. Verify current services, availability, and insurance acceptance directly with any center before enrolling.
Rehab in Allentown: What to Know
Allentown is Pennsylvania’s third-largest city and the seat of Lehigh County, anchoring the Lehigh Valley metro in the eastern part of the state. The Pennsylvania rehab directory lists 17 treatment providers in and around the city, weighted toward detox and inpatient care, so residents find a broad range of addiction treatment options close to home.
Public treatment access runs through Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol, the county’s Single County Authority, which funds free or low-cost care for people who qualify and contracts with local providers such as the Center for Recovery and Change and the Allentown Comprehensive Treatment Center. Statewide, anyone can reach treatment through the PA Get Help Now helpline, free and around the clock, which routes callers to their county drug and alcohol office.
The Lehigh Valley has felt Pennsylvania’s overdose crisis, but the statewide trend has improved sharply, with deaths down about 29% in a single year. Opioid use disorder and fentanyl still drive most of the harm, and the county has expanded access to medication for opioid use disorder, including for people leaving the county jail.
Cost of Rehab in Allentown
There is no single price for rehab in Allentown. Cost depends on the level of care, how long treatment lasts, whether a program is public or private, and what your insurance covers. Outpatient counseling is the most affordable option, medical detox and residential care cost more because they include around-the-clock supervision, and medication-assisted treatment falls in between. Local figures track Pennsylvania averages, and most people pay far less than the sticker price once insurance, Medical Assistance, or a sliding fee scale is applied.
Most people do not pay these amounts out of pocket. Because Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid, Medical Assistance covers the full continuum of substance use care for members who qualify, delivered through Behavioral HealthChoices, often at little or no cost. Lehigh County funds free or low-cost care for residents who qualify, and treatment scholarships and financial assistance can help with private programs.
How to Pay for Rehab in Allentown
Across the treatment centers listed for Allentown, nearly all accept self-payment and private insurance, and most also bill Medical Assistance. Financial assistance and sliding-scale fees are available at several programs. The cards below show how many Allentown programs in our directory accept each payment type.
Medicare
Medicare covers medically necessary addiction treatment for eligible older adults and people with qualifying disabilities, including inpatient care, outpatient services, and counseling. Coverage and copays vary by plan, so it helps to understand how Medicare and private insurance apply to rehab before you enroll.
Medicaid (Medical Assistance)
Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid, and Medical Assistance covers a broad continuum of substance use care, including detox, inpatient, outpatient, and medication-assisted treatment with methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, delivered through county Behavioral HealthChoices plans. Ten Allentown programs accept it, and Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol is a primary local route to publicly funded care.
Military Benefits
Two Allentown programs accept TRICARE for active-duty service members, retirees, and eligible family members. Veterans can also access care through the VA, and more addiction resources for veterans and military families are available regionally.
Insurance and Private Pay
Pennsylvania’s Act 106 and federal parity rules require health plans to cover substance use treatment as an essential health benefit, though your deductible and network still shape the final cost. Verifying benefits before admission tells you what a program will actually cost you.
- Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Independence Blue Cross
- Capital Blue Cross
- Geisinger Health Plan
- UPMC Health Plan
- Aetna
- Cigna
- UnitedHealthcare
Levels of Care Available in Allentown
The centers listed for Allentown cover most major levels of care, from medical detox and residential inpatient programs to outpatient clinics, dual diagnosis treatment, and sober living. The cards below show how many programs in each category are available locally.
Medical detox
Medical detox is the first step for people with significant physical dependence on alcohol, opioids, or other substances. Programs use around-the-clock monitoring and medication to manage withdrawal safely before a person steps into ongoing treatment.
Inpatient and residential rehab
Inpatient rehab provides 24-hour care in a structured residential setting, which suits people who need medical monitoring or a break from a high-risk environment early in recovery.
Outpatient treatment
Outpatient care lets people live at home and keep working or caring for family while attending scheduled treatment, and it often follows residential care as a step down.
Dual diagnosis care
Ten local programs treat co-occurring disorders, addressing a substance use disorder and a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD at the same time, which tends to work better than treating either alone.
Sober living and aftercare
Two sober living homes provide structured, substance-free housing for people leaving treatment. Ongoing aftercare, including counseling and peer support, helps protect recovery over the long term.
Specialty Programs in Allentown
Beyond general treatment, several Allentown programs tailor care to specific groups and substances. The grid below shows the number of programs offering each specialty.
Free and Low-Cost Rehab Resources in Allentown
Cost and insurance should never stop someone in the Lehigh Valley from getting help. Several local and statewide resources offer free or low-cost support, from 24-hour helplines to county-funded treatment and harm reduction.
Crisis and helplines
- PA Get Help Now. 1-800-662-HELP (4357), text 717-216-0905, the state’s free, confidential, 24/7 helpline that connects you to local treatment and funding.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24/7. See more crisis and suicide prevention resources.
- Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol. The county’s Single County Authority, coordinating public funding, assessment, and referral to treatment.
- SAMHSA National Helpline. 1-800-662-HELP (4357), a free, confidential 24/7 treatment referral line.
Local treatment and recovery
- Center for Recovery and Change. A Lehigh County adult treatment center offering free or low-cost services for people who qualify.
- Allentown Comprehensive Treatment Center. An opioid treatment program offering methadone and buprenorphine with counseling.
Government and harm reduction
- Free naloxone. Available at no cost through Pennsylvania’s DDAP standing order at pharmacies and through community distribution programs.
- Pennsylvania 211. Dial 211 to connect with local health, housing, and treatment resources.
Drug and Alcohol Use Statistics in Allentown
Allentown sits in Lehigh County, part of the Lehigh Valley, and the statewide picture that shapes the local trend has improved sharply. Pennsylvania overdose deaths fell about 29% in a single year, one of the steepest declines in the country, even as fentanyl continues to drive most deaths. Seeing the local picture against national substance use statistics adds context.
Resources
- Pennsylvania Department of Health. (2025). Drug Overdose Surveillance. https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/pdmp
- Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. PA Get Help Now. https://www.pa.gov/agencies/ddap/treatment-and-support/get-help-now-campaign
- Lehigh County. Drug and Alcohol Abuse Services. https://www.lehighcounty.org/
- Addictions.com. (2026). Alcohol and Drug Rehabs in Pennsylvania: cost of treatment averages. https://www.addictions.com/rehabs/pennsylvania/
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2026). National Helpline. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
