We need to make a real distinction between substance use and substance dependence. In the article “War on Drugs” we fight against people who have suffered abuse and traumatization as children and who have mental health problems. There is enough punishment in there, in the negative consequences of addiction, that we shouldn't add punishment to it. Elkhart Tolle says, “Addiction begins with pain and ends with pain” (Passport to Recovery). So all addictions are attempts to numb the pain. Whether it's addiction to work, shopping, the Internet or a relationship, these are all attempts to move away from heartache. People will try to do everything they can, to try to escape their pain. “I don't care what they tell you, about genetics, about choices or any other nonsense, it's always pain” (Mate). Whatever someone needs, try not to escape their pain but to stay with it because if they try to escape from it they are only creating more pain and that is the reality that is happening