About Chemical Dependency

Chemical dependency is a disease of the body, mind, and spirit. Chemical dependency is a psychological, and sometimes physical, need to use alcohol or other drugs that doesn't go away even when using them. It is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors that influence its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal.

Alcoholism and other drug dependency is a serious chronic illness that deserves treatment, just like cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. Treatment of chemical dependency works and is cost-effective. 

Facts and Figures

• Providing quality treatment for addiction to alcohol and other drugs saves lives and saves society billions of dollars in terms of reduced crime and health costs and increased productivity.
• About 10 percent of the U.S. population suffers from alcoholism, drug dependence, or some form of substance abuse.
• According to a study sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, seven percent of adults surveyed in the United States met the DSM-IV criteria for alcohol abuse, alcohol dependency, or both