If you're like most people who are looking for help for someone who's chemically dependent, you're deeply disturbed right now. You know the one you love is in serious trouble. You've already seen devastating results of chemical dependence: results that affect the dependent person, that affect you, your family, friends. You may have come face to face with sickness, depression, family quarrels, public embarrassment, automobile accidents, money problems, and constance worry about how it will all end.

You no doubt wonder why you haven't been able to get through to this person you love. How can he or she possibly be so blind to what's happening? An you wonder if perhaps you're to blame. Above all, you wonder if you can do anything about it.

So there is really hope. By the time you've finished reading this page and have thought it over, you'll be on your way to helping not only the one you love but yourself and your family as well. What this page will do, first of all, is to help you understand what's happening. It will explain what chemical dependence really is, how it affects its victims, how you can tell if someone is chemically dependent, why the victim is so blind, and why you haven't been able to help.

That deeper understanding will itself bring you great relief. But then this page will tell you what to do--what positive, specific action you can take.

Understanding the Problem