I think that when you are looking at an 'addict' they develop an addiction to alcohol or drugs (actually alcohol is just another drug), maybe whatever is around and available decides what they use. I did learn in rehab that alcohol kills many more people than drugs but death certificates say heart attack or stroke or car wreck rather than 'alcohol'. A 'non-addictive person could probably play with alcohol or drugs and put them down and walk away. The addictive person just can't.