Chemical dependency is a physical and psychological need to use alcohol or other drugs that doesn’t go away even when using them causes negative consequences. Drugs and Alcohol are chemical substances which on ingestion bring about chemical changes in mood, mind and behaviour of the user. Abusing chemicals alters brain chemistry and affects the body, mind, emotions, spirit (values) and relationships with the concerned individuals, family and society. However it is a disease, which is treatable at any stage in the life cycle of the chemically dependant person.

Co Dependency is defined as those self-defeating, learned behaviours or character defects that result in a diminished capacity to initiate or to participate in loving relationships, according to Earnie Larsen, a specialist on codependency.

Co-dependents are those people living in a committed relationship who are so dependent on the addict/alcoholic that they end up enabling the progression of chemical dependency. Therefore it becomes very essential for families to look into their behaviour which is possible only through getting awareness of this illness and getting to know about their behaviours which are one of the contributing factors to their wards addiction.