[daenz]

>drug addiction is a coping mechanism.

That's reductionist. The bigger picture is: why do some people end up with drug addiction as their coping mechanism, but others don't. Why aren't all abuse victims drug addicts? What separates the ones who fall down that hole and the ones who don't? Opportunity? If not opportunity, then what is that X factor? That's why you get to the larger questions of disease, responsibility, and moral failing.

[yosito]

The answer to your question is that drugs are one of many possible coping mechanisms. One abuse victim copes with drugs, while another copes with Stockholm syndrome, and yet another with therapy. What separates the ones who fall down the hole from the ones who don't is a combination of opportunity, biology (people have different reactions to the same drugs), and choice. It's understandable that this leads people to questions of disease and moral failing. Questions of behavior and coping mechanisms require much more nuance.

[Phenomenit]

There's always a coping mechanism, it's just a matter of where in society you and what norms and taboos you subscribe to. If drug use has been a part of your life or people around you it's easier to reach for. This is why demonizing drugs and drug users kind of work. But other coping mechanisms are just as bad and sometimes do way more harm to the individual before being surfaced. Workaholism is very detrimental and can have a long lasting effect on ones life(speaking from personal experience).

[crunchyfrog]

I'd say opportunity, physiology and personality.

Telling someone who is already in more pain than they can handle that they are sick, weak or immoral is not a good idea. After all, they might decide it is true.