Chemical Dependency/Addiction and Alcoholism

According to a recent Gallup Poll, more than a third (36 percent) of Americans report drinking has been a source of problems for their family. Of the 64 percent of Americans who say they drink alcoholic beverages at least occasionally, 26 percent say they sometimes drink more than they should. A significant portion of these (16 percent) report that they have made a serious effort to stop drinking. Add to this group the people who have developed dependence on prescription or illicit drugs and we begin to see the scope of this problem.

Addictive disorders affect all groups: men, women, those with high education, professionals, adults and youth. Many experts in this field have identified that approximately 10 percent of those who use addictive drugs will develop problems with dependency and impaired functioning.

Rush Behavioral Health (RBH) offers clinical treatment programs and services for these problems. RBH has five primary sites in the Chicago area offering day and evening structured programs, as well as individualized counseling and specialty groups. All Rush Behavioral Health clinical services are directed by board-certified psychiatrists and addiction medicine specialists, supplemented by master’s level clinical therapists.

The original and largest RBH program is the professionals treatment program located on the campus of Rush Oak Park Hospital. This program began in the Chicago area more than 20 years ago under the direction of Daniel Angres, MD. It specializes in the treatment of high accountability professionals from the health and business community, including physicians, dentists, nurses, and lawyers. Other programs were added to provide easy geographic access for the metro Chicago. All locations offer a variety of treatment options for adults. Three programs offer specialized adolescent outpatient programs. RBH also provides residential youth chemical dependency treatment at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.

For more information:
To obtain a brochure (in PDF format) with more information on treatment programs and services offered by Rush Behavioral Health go to "Related Topics" on the right-hand side of this page.

Other helpful resources:

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
• National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA)