I found an analogy I can understand
I saw this post where someone was asking if an addict even cares about their family a question that I often wonder about. I don't know why maybe it is normal to wonder that in this case the DOC is heroin and this was the post that struck me.
No, they care. But their reward mechanism in their brain becomes greater than their need to breath. Ask someone who is drowning in a pool, if they would rather see their child 1 last time before they die, or to get 1 more breath of fresh air. They will pick air. Not because they don't love their child, but because their brain screams air! Just as an addicts brain screams , "heroin!
While his brain is screaming opiates mine is screaming Hands Off