Individuals who struggle with  addictions do not set out to destroy themselves and everyone and everything in their path--rather, these cataclysmic consequences are the effect of the vicious cycle of addiction. Addictions may
serve to avert emotional and physical pain by providing the user with a temporary and illusionary escape from or way to cope with life's realities.

In fact, more problems--serious ones--are created by addictions. Over time, a person's ability to choose not to engage in addictive behavior can become compromised. Soon enough, the person rationalizes this need consistently and will do anything to repeat the behavior whether it is alcohol or drug use to get high, gambling or sexual behavior.