[Skip to Content]

Understand & Learn About Chemical Dependency

Understand & Learn About Chemical Dependency

Chemical Abuse or Chemical Dependency?

Chemical Abuse is a recognized medical brain disorder that leads to the abuse of illegal or legal chemical substances. Alcohol is the most common legal drug of abuse.

Illegal Substances:

  • Marijuana
  • Methamphetamine
  • Cocaine
  • Opiates
  • Anabolic steroids
  • Hallucinogens
  • Inhalants
  • Designer or synthetic drugs (bath salts, K2, spice)

Legal Substances:

  • Alcohol
  • Nicotine
  • Prescription drugs (pain pills, stimulants)

Chemical Abuse is the medical term used to describe a pattern of drug or alcohol use that causes problems or pain, such as failure to attend work or school, putting yourself and others in dangerous situations, legal problems, or continued substance use that interferes with friendships and/or family relationships.

Chemical Dependency, on the other hand, is a medical term that is used when a person’s abuse of drugs or alcohol continues, even though significant problems have developed based on their usage.

Chemical Dependency presents itself through the following symptoms:

  • A need for increased amounts of the drug to get the desired effect
  • Withdrawal symptoms appear if you decrease the amount or stop using the drug
  • Investing a lot of time to obtain and use drugs, and increased amount of time to recover from the effects
  • Withdrawal from social and recreational activities that you previously enjoyed
  • Continued use of the drug even though you are aware of the physical, psychological, and social problems that result from chemical abuse

Fairmount Behavioral Health System offers Chemical Dependency Treatment. Our service is among the top-ranked Pennsylvania detox centers and offers treatment for a variety of alcohol and drug related addictions. For more information about our program, please visit our Chemical Dependency Treatment page.

If someone you know is attending our detox center, we welcome you during our visitation hours. Please follow our guidelines and procedures upon your visit. We encourage you to show support to your family member or friend who is attending our facility and look forward to your visit.

Here to Assist You 24/7

If a psychiatric disorder or chemical dependency affects you or a loved one, please call 215-487-4100. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to perform no-cost assessments and answer questions on programs and admissions.