Detox programs in Allentown operate within a well-defined public system anchored by Lehigh County Drug & Alcohol Services, which functions as the area’s Single County Authority (SCA).
The SCA manages federal, state, and local dollars and coordinates a network of contracted providers offering assessment, case management, inpatient and outpatient treatment and recovery support services for Lehigh County residents.
At the state level, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) licenses every freestanding facility that provides drug and alcohol treatment services in the commonwealth and sets clinical and staffing standards under 28 Pa. Code.
Individuals seeking detox in Allentown should keep in mind that there is a limited number of withdrawal management programs within ten miles of the city. More options are available within a 50-mile radius that includes Bethlehem, Easton and the broader Lehigh Valley, so people with limited transportation may want to ask their SCA intake coordinator about county-funded transportation assistance when scheduling an assessment.
One local access point worth knowing about is the Hospital Opioid Support Team (HOST), a collaboration between the Lehigh County SCA and local hospital systems. HOST connects people who present at Lehigh Valley-area emergency departments with real-time support, referrals and a warm handoff to treatment. The program operates seven days a week and has made thousands of referrals since its launch.
The SCA also runs a law enforcement outreach program in partnership with the Allentown Police Department to reach people who come into contact with police and need a path to treatment rather than incarceration.
