




West Reading, Pennsylvania
West Reading, PA Profile
West Reading, PA, population 4,049 , is located
in Pennsylvania's Berks county,
about 30.7 miles from Allentown and 49.1 miles from Philadelphia.
In the 90's the population of West Reading has declined by about 2%.
It is Estimated in recent years the population of West Reading has been declining at an annual rate of less than one percent.
Reports show that during 2003 property crime levels in the West Reading area were higher than Pennsylvania's average.
The same data shows violent crime levels to be higher than the Pennsylvania average.
West Reading Statistics
West Reading Gender Information
Males in West Reading: 1,831 (45%)
Females in West Reading: 2,218 (55%)
As % of Population in West Reading
Race Diversity in West Reading
White: 89%
African American: 4%
Asian: 2%
Other/Mixed: 5%
As % of Population in West Reading
Age Diversity in West Reading
Median Age in West Reading: 40.3 (Males in West Reading: 36.8, Females in West Reading: 44.0)
West Reading Males Under 20: 10%
West Reading Females Under 20: 11%
West Reading Males 20 to 40: 15%
West Reading Females 20 to 40: 14%
West Reading Males 40 to 60: 10%
West Reading Females 40 to 60: 11%
West Reading Males Over 60: 11%
West Reading Females Over 60: 19%
Economics in West Reading
West Reading Household Average Size: 2.11 people
West Reading Median Household Income: $ 38,340
West Reading Median Value of Homes: $ 72,900
Law Enforcement in West Reading
Reported crimes in the West Reading area during 2003:
Murder and non-negligent man-slaughter: 1
Forcible rape: 1
Robbery: 5
Aggravated assault: 19
Violent crime events per 100,000 people: 645
Burglary: 17
Larceny-theft: 141
Motor vehicle theft: 22
Arson: 0
Property crime events per 100,000 people: 4,469
West Reading Location Information
Elevation: 300 feet above sea level.
Land Area: 0.6 Square Miles.
Nearby Towns & Cities to West Reading
Wyomissing 1.0 Miles
Reading 1.1 Miles
Kenhorst 1.6 Miles
Wyomissing Hills 1.7 Miles
Shillington 2.0 Miles
West Wyomissing 2.4 Miles
West Lawn 2.5 Miles
Spring Ridge 2.6 Miles
Mt Penn 3.0 Miles
Whitfield 3.1 Miles
Big Cities Nearest West Reading
(Population 100,000+)
Allentown 30.7 Miles
Philadelphia 49.1 Miles
Baltimore 80.3 Miles
Elizabeth 94.2 Miles
Newark 97.4 Miles
Paterson 101.6 Miles
Jersey City 102.0 Miles
New York 105.4 Miles
Washington 115.2 Miles
Yonkers 115.2 Miles
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Facts
Education serves as another part of an alcohol abuse prevention strategy. Individuals unaware of the effects of alcohol risk the development of alcohol-related problems. Although the use of such knowledge likely can be affected by values and beliefs, experts argue that the presence of such knowledge reduces the likelihood of alcohol abuse. Contrary to common belief, lectures on alcoholism remain one of the least effective methods of educational prevention. Providing information about how to identify and explore lifestyle factors that support alcohol abuse proves more beneficial. For example, smoking cessation clinics identify cues that trigger cravings for smokers and teach them new responses to avoid those cues. The point of an alcohol education program should be that change in alcohol abuse behavior is unlikely to occur unless factors in the officer's lifestyle are identified and changed. Having an open alcoholic beverage container inside of a vehicle is illegal. In some states, it is only illegal for the driver to have an open container, but in others it is illegal for either the passenger or driver to have one. Some states allow an offender to posses a hardship license while his or her driver's license is suspended. This means that an offender is allowed certain driving privileges, like driving to work, if there is a legitimate excuse, (e.g., being the family's primary earner). Drug craving: A term used in the field of drug ADDICTION to denote a state of strong desire to obtain a previously administered drug. The term has been used more extensively in recent years in attempts to define and understand the motivational or emotional states (see MOTIVATION and EMOTION) associated with DRUGSEEKING BEHAVIOUR, Its use is somewhat controversial, as the concept is very subjective, and it is very difficult to precisely define what is meant by the term. However, it has proved useful as a measure of subjective states in human clinical studies of addiction. For example, in former COCAINE addicts, the subjective measure of CRAVING (‘How much do you want the drug, on a scale of 1–10?’) is increased by exposure to cocaine-related visual cues or by a small intravenous dose of cocaine. It is believed that increased craving, even in long-abstinent individuals, is an important factor in relapse to drug use. Researchers are interested in developing ANIMAL MODELS of craving in order to better study the neuronal changes associated with this state. Females aged 16 or 17 were more likely than females aged 12 to 15 to report using marijuana/hashish, LSD, cocaine, and heroin during the past month. Small sample sizes prevented comparisons of past-month use of illicit drugs across racial/ethnic groups. |
Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is defined as the chronic or habitual use of any chemical substance to alter states of body or mind for other than medically warranted purposes. Drug abuse is a problem which has an effect on people of all income levels,
ages, and stations in life. Quite often the last person to see that there is a
problem is the drug abuser them self. Every year, more and more people become
drug addicts in their pursuit to get "high".
Relapse
Relapse is a term used to describe when an individual who has quit using drugs starts using once again. A relapse can mean just a one time use, a long term continues period of using or anything in between after a period of sobriety has taken place. An individual begins to experience a psychological relapse long before their first use after
quitting. Some things that can lead to relapse both physically or psychologically include: 1. Being in the presence of drugs or alcohol, drug or alcohol users, or places where you used or bought chemicals. 2. Feelings we perceive as negative, particularly anger; also sadness, loneliness, guilt, fear, and anxiety. 3. Positive feelings that make you want to celebrate by using. 4. Listening to others past drug use stories and just dwelling on getting high. 5. Believing that you no longer have to worry (complacent). That is, that you are no longer stimulated to crave drugs/alcohol by any of the above situations or by anything else – and therefore maybe it’s safe for you to use occasionally.
Therapeutic Community
An effective therapeutic community attends to the many needs of the individual, not just his or her drug use. Care given at a therapeutic community addresses the individual's drug use and associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems. Also, a therapeutic community will continue to be flexible and provide ongoing assessments of the individual's needs, which may change during the course of care.
Remaining in care at a therapeutic community for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment effectiveness. The time depends on an individual's needs. For most people, the significant improvement is reached at about 3 months in treatment.
Alcoholism
Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence," is a condition that includes craving and continued alcohol abuse despite repeated drinking-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law. It includes four major areas: Craving: - A strong need, or compulsion, to drink. Impaired control: -The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion. Physical dependence: -Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking. Tolerance: - The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.
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.
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