Thank you Atalose and Zoso for responding. I appreciate the suggestions as well as the candor. My experience with drug/alcohol abuse revolves around Borderline Personality Disorder. My spouse of 20+ years is BPD and self-medicated for years. Fortunately many, many moons ago, he hit bottom and decided to help himself by seeking professional help. Our focus, therefore, has been on addressing the BPD (primary) and understanding how drugs/alcohol (secondary) were used/abused as a coping mechanism.
Consequently, we are sensitive to those who face similar challenges; my cousin and her family are a case-in-point. However, in their situation, drugs/alcohol appear be the primary concern and provide the reason for seeking out a forum which focuses on addiction. I realize they're common bedfellows, so to speak.
I wonder whether or not, the nature of addiction takes precedence over the interlaced emotional/psychological factors which contribute to addictive behaviors.
Thoughts?