they know exactly what they are doing. they know the damage, the risks....and all the bad crap that this lifestyle could bring. they keep WANTING to do it until the crap hits the fan...and then maybe they will decide to live a different life. and even then, that might not be enough to stop. but when the crap does hit the fan....and they see how badly THEIR lives have become...they may want to get help...and decide to stop.
but, even if they do...they are still accountable for all the bad things they did. period. the drugs may have obviously played a role in the poor choices...but the manipulation, cheating, lies....all of it does not get excused. i think an addict trying to hide behind "the drugs made me do it" is not really taking responsibility for the horrible behavior. as a codie...it is sooooooooooo tempting to want to blame it all on the drugs.
the healing begins when you accept that he did that....he did that...he did that becasue he wanted to do it....and knew exactly what he was doing. he was a jerk for it...but now own it...take responsibiltiy and get yoru crap together so that you dont make the same mistakes again...AND get clean. you know?