Causes Not Symptoms

I work with a large number of recovering addicts and alcoholics by helping them with the underlying causes of their turning to addictive use, rather than approaching their addictive use directly, which, to me, would be addressing the symptom, not the cause.  In addition to addressing drug and alcohol use directly, I work with the recovering addict on things like individuation, love and/or social and spiritual connection .  This approach helps them to lead a happy life, stay away from drugs, and is relatively successful.  On the other hand, the “war on drugs” approaches primarily the symptoms and is relatively unsuccessful.