i think addiction potential is variable from one person to the next. The feeling I get is that it is not the same for every person. Some folks are pre-disposed to it chemically in their brain, others are not. So, if it takes 51% of a 100% whole person to be an addict, then whether the 51% or more is caused by chemical or mental, it does not matter. You can be in a bad relationship but be mildly pre-disposed chemically, say 35% mental, and 16% chemical, and wala, you have an addict.
In this previous scenario, if you work on the mental, you can help the addict.
or, the other way around. But I do think some folks are a bit more pre-disposed to being a chemically (brain driven) addict.
maybe a bit simple, but that is the feeling I get.
anecdotally, I am going to Colorado next weekend to visit family, notably my father. He was a long term alcoholic until about 49 years old. I get the feeling he had a strong pre-disposition to a chemically derived dependency.
just the opinion of an ACOA (adult child of an alcoholic...)