I was responding to the claim that most of the societal harm comes from demonization. No it does not. It comes from the behavior of the addicts.

the behaviour of the addicts is (largely) due to the addiction, therefore anything which impedes the addict from getting treatment (such as demonization) is the main driver of the societal harm which arises due to addiction :)

I say largely because there ARE people who simply will refuse treatment due to other personality issues, or are generally anti-social otherwise.