Alcoholics and addicts have a brain disease, a mind disease,a feeling disease, a perception disease, a DIS-EASE of life. A craving for things to be other than they are, its why us addicts/alcoholics create our on reality. We crave not only the drug but for our lives to be not what we perceive or misperceive them to be. From this craving arises sorrow and from craving arises fear. In our sorrow and fear comes our pain. When we try to medicate or numb our pain chemically, we become addicted. When we try to smother it in the comfort or need or possessiveness of our family and friends we smother the love of family and friends.
Don't jump into the raging waters of addiction if you don't know how to swim. You can care about others but not care for them, that they must do, including surrendering and reaching out.
"You can explore the universe looking for somebody who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and you will not find that person anywhere."
Sharon Salzberg