And it seems to me the essence of addiction is getting from chemicals a sense of connection with something, with feelings, and I think in particular the sense of relief from isolation, which is not quite the same as belonging, but awfully close. and as close as most addicts think they can get.
The cure lies in developing new relationships that over time exceed in value the relationship with the substance, which after all cannot quite speak for itself, and onto which feelings must be projected.
As I have said before, this is the principle innovation of AA. It is not the 12 steps, but the inclusion of groups of like-minded people saying and believing the same things. It is the creation of a tribe, or if you like, a church.
One can with justice ask how and why we are all–or if you like, why I particularly am–so stupid, why we (I) fail to meet our (my) needs in effective and harmonious ways. I don’t know the Answer, but I will continue to come up with answers.