The human body and mind are still not completely understood by scientists today. Considering the incredible advances in technology over the last hundred years, there are still areas about human behavior that baffle even the best of minds. One of those areas is chemical dependency.

Since the beginning of humankind, there seems to have been many forms of chemical dependency that have eventually caused problems either socially, physically or mentally. In modern times, we don't have to look far to notice the numerous advertisements of chemicals. With the advent of television and the thirty-second commercial, some of us are well informed about which chemical does what, probably more so than any generation before us.

Workers reporting current illicit drug use indicated that they would be less likely to work for employers who conduct prehire and random testing than those workers who did not report current illicit drug use.

You may be asking yourself: What are chemicals? What does it mean to be chemically dependent? Strictly speaking, a chemical is everything you touch and anything you see other than light or electricity. But let's talk specifically about dealing with chemicals that cause addiction and addictive behaviors.

One of the simplest observations an individual can look to see whether or not they are chemically dependent is this: If you think you have a problem then you probably do. Do you depend on it to make you feel a certain way? Do you use the chemical more frequently than those around you? Do you find yourself having a hard time being without it? Do you think of it more when you don't have any than when you do?

Not surprisingly, a high proportion of at-risk drinkers find their way to trauma centers, where almost 50% of patients can have positive blood alcohol concentrations.  Despite the prevalence of alcohol-related risk and problems, most trauma centers do not currently provide screening and effective brief intervention as part of routine care.

One key element in chemical dependency is the obsessive behavior affiliated with it. If you can take it or leave it, you may not have a problem. But when was the last time when you did take it or did leave it? Nobody wants to be dependent on a chemical, but for the addicted, there is no longer a choice. Sometimes, the individual affected will not accept this reality and denial sets in. This is more common than not. It seems to be a normal stage of addiction at one point or another.

A brief alcohol or drug abuse intervention can range from a simple advice session of 5 minutes to 1-hour counseling session. Both very short and longer interventions have been shown to be effective. The length of the intervention should depend on the type of advice or counseling that would most benefit the patient and the willingness of the patient to receive it.

Rarely is there an individual that will suddenly realize they have a chemical dependency problem, immediately accept it and seek the required treatment. Usually what happens is a long list of negative behaviors, poor choices and months or years of trying to live a normal life while remaining chemically dependent. The two do not mix and eventually everything will come crashing down around them. For some, they will consider this rock bottom and they will look for help. For others, it will take a lot more than this to stop them; jails, institutions or death.

Research has shown that there is a strong association between mental health disorders and substance use disorders, but findings about the order of onset and direction of influence vary by substance and type of disorder.

Unfortunately for family members, friends and employers, there is no sure fire way of knowing when a person is ready to stop. There are the common signs of hopelessness and helplessness. But only the individual themselves can make the decision to accept outside help.

Entering a treatment program, it is best for the dependent person and those around them to remember that chemical dependency is a disease. When seeking help, the addicted individual is not a bad person trying to become good, they are a sick person suffering from a disease trying to get well.

In 2004, approximately 2.0 million persons aged 12 or older met the criteria for dependence or abuse involving any prescription psychotherapeutic drug that was used nonmedically, including 1.4 million for pain relievers, 573,000 for tranquilizers, 470,000 for stimulants, and 128,000 for sedatives.