Since the beginning of the opioid epidemic, many areas in the United States have been hit hard. Some have been affected worse than others.

Philadelphia is known for its rich history, cheesesteak, and love for the Eagles. But despite its joys, a neighborhood called Kensington made a name for itself as home to the nation’s highest rates of heroin overdoses. When the coronavirus pandemic hit in late December 2019, heroin abuse in Kensington worsened. Now, as the stay-at-home orders, mask mandates, and social distancing guidelines have been lifted, our Philadelphia addiction center is taking another look at the “Walmart of Heroin” and the situation of drugs in Kensington.

What’s the “Walmart of Heroin”?

Kensington is a neighborhood in Philadelphia that has a crime rate higher than the national average.¹ The Kensington area includes West Kensington, East Kensington, Fairhill, Port Richmond, and Olde Richmond. It’s known for its alarming heroin problem, which is why it was coined the “Walmart of Heroin.” It’s considered the largest outdoor narcotics market for heroin on the East Coast. Kensington went from a blue-collar factory neighborhood to a drug-ridden city when it suffered deindustrialization in the 1950s. As financial investments from the city dwindled, the drug market filled the economic gap. Now, Kensington receives drug tourists, or people seeking out the cheapest and most potent drugs from all over the nation and even from other countries, in addition to drug-using residents.

Update on Kensington, Philadelphia Drugs

Kensington drugs have caused major problems for Philadelphia residents. Since 1994, the city’s rate of drug overdose skyrocketed, tripling its number of homicides and exceeding the number of deaths related to AIDS.² The drug problems in the area have made its crime rate the third highest in the city at 1.21 percent.³ In this part of Philly, it’s common to see people injecting heroin and nodding off on the sidewalk in the middle of the day. Although time has passed since the start of the opioid epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic has only contributed to the nation’s drug problems. There were an estimated 88,000 reported drug overdose deaths in 2020, a 27 percent increase from the previous year. In 2019, Pennsylvania had one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the nation at 35.6 per 100,000 people.⁴

Kensington currently has over 80 corners with open-air drug markets, according to the area’s police department. In 2020, an estimated 47 people were killed, and 231 people were shot and wounded. Unfortunately, Kensington’s heroin economy continues to thrive. It contributes to its high crime rate, including gun violence.⁵ 2020 saw the highest mortality rate related to drug and gun violence in this area since 2015. Despite the mandates and social distancing requirements implemented because of COVID-19, drug dealers and addicts still gather in the streets. Due to the pandemic, drug dealers and distributors also struggled to obtain the same amount of ingredients they were once accustomed to using. As a result, less potent heroin that produces an even shorter-lasting high has been sold more frequently. This has increased the rate of abuse and purchase of heroin.

What’s Been Done to Combat the Kensington Drug Problems?

In response to the opioid epidemic and drug problems in Kensington, Philadelphia, non-profit organizations and government officials are coming together to create an action plan. Safe housing, food, medical care, and employment opportunities are being opened to those in need of help. Even with heroin addiction treatment, these individuals will continue to struggle if they are homeless, isolated, and unable to find food or shelter. Prevention Point is a private, non-profit organization that’s provided harm reduction services to Philadelphia. The program has provided prisoners with medications to treat opioid addiction, including naltrexone and buprenorphine. Naloxone kits are also being distributed for the reversal of opioid overdoses, in addition to testing for HIV and Hepatitis C and treatment referral. The Prevention Point center also provides temporary shelter and meals.

As a drug rehab center in Philadelphia, the heroin problem in Kensington is alarming. In response to the growing number of people in our state and surrounding areas struggling with heroin addiction, we offer opioid addiction treatment to ensure that patients have all they need to recover. We want to help fight the opioid epidemic and put the “Walmart of Heroin” out of business.

If you or a loved one is a victim of heroin addiction or any other substance use disorder, do not wait a moment longer to get help. Call Banyan Philadelphia now at 888-280-4763 for more information about our levels of care.