[capeAngedlelp]

The reason a person turns to drink, drugs or any kind of substance, even apparently 'harmless' ones, is their capacity to relieve stress - the stress of 'being' who we are. Behind any addiction is a genuine longing for freedom from suffering and there are things which offer a temporary (and subsequently damaging) abatement.

I would think that rather than enforce more suffering on a person, it may be ultimately safer to lead them to this knowledge, although I'm not idealistic enough to think that this is an easy option Absolutely, Kris. Quite often people become seriously addicted to drugs or/and alcohol because of earlier traumas or other stresses in their lives which have triggered underlying emotional difficulties that they haven't been able to deal with, or share with others.