The power of addiction - A lethal mystery

The death of anyone as young as Peaches Geldof, who died from a drug overdose aged 25, is always a tragedy, but when that death is caused by a life-controlling addiction, it seems even more so. The trauma of a premature and unexpected death is exacerbated by the incomprehension around why anyone would expose themselves to such a lethal risk.

Yet, despite this obvious fact, and almost endless public health education, addiction is all around us; some people are addicted to illicit — if that word has any meaning in this context — others to prescribed drugs, others are addicted to gambling or other self-destructive lifestyles.

However, it is probably fair to suggest that more Irish people are addicted to alcohol than any other substance.

Nearly every family has felt the hard and heartbreaking consequences of alcoholism at one time or another. Despite this tragic legacy, so many of us gleefully expose ourselves to that great risk by drinking more than we should.

What is it in our make up that allows us to behave in that self-destructive fashion?