Chemical dependency (or substance abuse) can be characterized as significant impairment or distress as manifested by three or more of the following:

• Substance is often taken in larger amounts or over longer periods than intended
• Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use
• A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance, use the substance, or recover from its effects
• Important social, occupational, or recreational activities given up or reduced because of substance use
• Continued substance use despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent psychological or physical problem that is caused or exacerbated by use of the substance
• Either need for increased amounts of the substance in order to achieved desired effect or markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount

In Fiscal Year 1995, there were nearly 1.9 million admissions to publicly funded substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States. Almost 59% of these admissions were to treatment in an ambulatory environment. A study prepared by The Lewin Group for the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimated the total economic cost of alcohol and drug abuse to be $245.7 billion for 1992.

Permian Basin Community Centers provides chemical dependency services funded through the Texas Department of State Health Services. These services include residential treatment, outreach and intervention, and outpatient treatment for both adolescents and adults.