I struggled with addiction to alcohol and cocaine for a long time. I would not say, at least do feel it’s the case, I was trying to escape. It was fun, and as time when on it was just a thing I did. Eventually my body started feeling it and it took me two years to get clean (I still drink about once a month.) But nowhere along that decade long road did I ever feel like I was escaping my life. I was amplifying it, I can write twice the code on cocaine (I’m already pretty fast) and alcohol is a social thing, I got hooked because it was cool to drink so I drank more than everyone else. I would be the last guy up at a party.

I think the other poster, whether what he said was correct or not, is right that it is a disservice to chalk an addict up to someone escaping life. This removes the majority of drug addicts who got hooked from pain after surgery and now can’t stop, or the ones who could stop but enjoy the feeling it creates. Not all drug addicts are homeless people sleeping on the streets. I have an ex who’s sister runs a chain of stores and she’s a legit meth head, you could never tell though because she does it in moderation and doesn’t look like she takes anything at all.