Once a person is addicted to heroin or alcohol they don't really have a choice either. They bodies demand the narcotic and they will use to avoid the horrible withdrawals. Society seems frightened by addiction while accepting of other diseases. Lots of fund raisers for cancer but I've never really seen any for addiction. Many people fighting cancer are forced to go back to treatment if the cancer returns. Just like the addict who has a relapse. They are both chronic and lifelong conditions.