I have a very serious family history of addiction. Many many alcoholics on both sides, hard drug abusers and ODs in younger generations too. So I don't drink. Pressure is immemse in college but still not an excuse. Addiction is a medical problem, but it's like obesity: a medical problem that arises from choices. So there is some individual responsibility. And shame may not help addicts but it sure stops people from becoming addicts.

Predilection to addiction isn't a recognized medical condition like diabetes or heart failure. There is no diagnosis code for it. Some people seem more prone to addiction and there may be some genetic risk factors but anyone can become an addict.

You don't have to think of addiction as a moral failing when you treat it as a behavioral problem. There's not necessarily a genetic or chemical cause or cure - in the end, addiction is a behavior.

That’s begging the question, because behaviors can absolutely have chemical causes.