




Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, PA Profile
Reading, PA, population 81,207 , is located
in Pennsylvania's Berks county,
about 29.7 miles from Allentown and 48.3 miles from Philadelphia.
In the 90's the population of Reading has grown by about 4%.
It is Estimated in recent years the population of Reading has been declining at an annual rate of less than one percent.
Reports show that during 2003 property crime levels in the Reading area were higher than Pennsylvania's average.
The same data shows violent crime levels to be higher than the Pennsylvania average.
Reading Statistics
Reading Gender Information
Males in Reading: 39,205 (48%)
Females in Reading: 42,002 (52%)
As % of Population in Reading
Race Diversity in Reading
White: 59%
African American: 12%
Asian: 2%
Other/Mixed: 27%
As % of Population in Reading
Age Diversity in Reading
Median Age in Reading: 30.6 (Males in Reading: 29.3, Females in Reading: 31.9)
Reading Males Under 20: 17%
Reading Females Under 20: 16%
Reading Males 20 to 40: 15%
Reading Females 20 to 40: 15%
Reading Males 40 to 60: 10%
Reading Females 40 to 60: 11%
Reading Males Over 60: 6%
Reading Females Over 60: 9%
Economics in Reading
Reading Household Average Size: 2.63 people
Reading Median Household Income: $ 26,698
Reading Median Value of Homes: $ 45,000
Law Enforcement in Reading
Reported crimes in the Reading area during 2003:
Murder and non-negligent man-slaughter: 16
Forcible rape: 56
Robbery: 434
Aggravated assault: 440
Violent crime events per 100,000 people: 1,172
Burglary: 1,140
Larceny-theft: 2,458
Motor vehicle theft: 1,045
Arson: 55
Property crime events per 100,000 people: 5,754
Reading Location Information
Elevation: 266 feet above sea level.
Land Area: 9.8 Square Miles.
Water Area: 0.3 Square Miles.
Nearby Towns & Cities to Reading
Reading">West Reading 1.1 Miles
Kenhorst 1.9 Miles
Mt Penn 2.0 Miles
Wyomissing 2.1 Miles
Wyomissing Hills 2.8 Miles
Shillington 2.8 Miles
St Lawrence 3.0 Miles
Reiffton 3.0 Miles
West Wyomissing 3.5 Miles
Spring Ridge 3.5 Miles
Big Cities Nearest Reading
(Population 100,000+)
Allentown 29.7 Miles
Philadelphia 48.3 Miles
Baltimore 80.9 Miles
Elizabeth 93.1 Miles
Newark 96.3 Miles
Paterson 100.5 Miles
Jersey City 100.9 Miles
New York 104.3 Miles
Yonkers 114.1 Miles
Washington 115.9 Miles
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Facts
Peer relationships. Youth who use alcohol and other drugs may be alienated from and stigmatized by their peers. They often disengage from school and community activities because of their substance abuse, depriving their peers and communities of the positive contributions they might otherwise make. Nearly 60 percent of Americans who report abusing prescription drugs say they get them from friends or family, according to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the largest survey on substance abuse in the country with about 70,000 participants. According to another survey, the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, there are 14.6 million current marijuana users and 6.4 million prescription drug abusers, with most prescription drug abusers using painkillers such as Vicodin. Cocaine ranked third, with 2.4 million current users. The same survey found the annual average number of new abusers of prescription pain relievers was 2.4 million, edging out the 2.1 million new users of marijuana. With 29,000 annual victims, SUICIDE is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. Alcohol and illicit drugs are involved in about 50 percent of all suicide attempts. About 25 percent of completed suicides occur among alcoholics and drug abusers. Substance abuse among young adults is largely responsible for the increased suicide rates under age thirty. Studies show that the use of narcotics such as heroin leads to increases in property crime and robbery. The simplest explanation for this result is that addicts steal because they need cash to support their drug habits. In addition, many heroin addicts turn to crimes such as prostitution to support their habits. While this trend may not be reflected in increased prostitution rates, it is nevertheless an important link between heroin use, crime, and public health, since injecting drug use and HIV infection are involved. Most of the crime associated with heroin appears to be related not to heroin addicts but to drug trafficking—getting the drug into the country and distributing it to dealers and users. This is especially true of violent crime associated with heroin. Heroin addicts are less likely to commit violent crime than to commit property crime. Only a small percentage of all addict crime is violent crime (approximately 1 percent to 3 percent). However, the actual number of violent crimes is still relatively large because addicts commit so many crimes. Researchers have also suggested that heavy heroin use and, more recently, heavy cocaine abuse have contributed to record numbers of homicides in large cities in the United States. Some of this increase may be attributed to heroin users, but most of it is likely the result of drug trafficking. Violent competition between drug dealers has resulted in many murders and the deaths of innocent bystanders. |
Tolerance
Tolerance to a drug takes place when an individual is exposed to the same drug repeatedly and begins to build up an resistance to the drugs effects. The body then adapts and develops a tolerance for the drug. The addiction that is produced is so powerful that it creates cravings in the user. These cravings for the drug are the result of its impact on the individual's memory with feelings of pleasantness and euphoria which the individual has come to associate with the taking of the drug.
Abstinence
Abstinence is the act or practice of refraining from indulging a desire. The type of abstinence we are referring to here is abstinence from drugs and alcohol. This term has two connotations when it comes to abstaining from drugs. The first refers to drug or alcohol treatment programs that aim to help an individual stop using drugs or alcohol for the rest of their lives. The time abstinence is also used in drug education and prevention. It refers to trying to stop children from ever using drugs.
Drug Overdose
A drug overdose occurs when you consume more drugs than your body can tolerate. Drug users are constantly flirting with the risk of a drug overdose. There is a
fine line between the high they're seeking and serious injury or death. While many victims of drug overdose recover without long term effects, there
can be serious consequences. Some drug overdoses cause the failure of major
organs like the kidneys or liver, or failure of whole systems like the
respiratory or circulatory systems. Patients who survive drug overdose may need
kidney dialysis, kidney or liver transplant, or ongoing care as a result of
heart failure, stroke, or coma. Death can occur in almost any drug overdose
situation, particularly if treatment is not started immediately.
Residential Treatment
Residential treatment offers intensive drug addiction help over a period of weeks or months. This form of treatment has some advantages over out-patient treatment, although it may not be suitable for everyone. For example, those who are responsible for caring for young children may be better suited to attendance at an out patient treatment program. Residential treatment offers a safe, drug and alcohol-free environment where individuals can confront their own drug addiction and associated issues, with the help of qualified staff. Therapy usually consists of a mixture of group counseling, individual counseling and an introduction to the principles of a drug recovery program.
Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is a pattern of repeated drug taking that usually results in tolerance (the need for greater amounts of the drug to achieve the same effect), withdrawal (physical and cognitive effects when drug use declines or stops), and compulsive drug taking behavior (drug taking that persists despite efforts to reduce intake and despite problems with family, friends, and work). Drug addiction encompasses a diverse range of drugs (such as alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, and cocaine) and is caused by many different factors.
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