A genetic or biological contributing factor in alcoholism is all the more reason for individuals to exercise a great deal of caution when it comes to trying addictive substances, whether it's alcohol or drugs, illegal or prescribed. The viewpoint I come from is that of the child of an alcoholic father, my problem with alcohol is the other side of the bottle. My reaction has been to not drink as I refuse to put myself at risk. If someone got AIDS/HIV because they had been sharing needles or had sex without a condom (and told me as much, because there is a chance of breaking condoms, etc, and the benefit of the doubt should be given) then I'd certainly treat them, but I'd think they were a damn fool. The trouble comes in when the problem is recurring - when they keep on doing it, hurting other people by doing it, and pushing away any help. Leaving the house is something you have to do. You can't live your life without taking some reasonable risks. But things like taking hard drugs, drinking excessive alcohol, sleeping around without using condoms, wandering across roads without looking both ways for traffic, perching dodgy electrical radios on the side of the bathtub... they're risks that you don't have to take, erring on stupitidy. Unfortunately I get ranty about stupidity. My views are probably also coloured by my having one of the "it's not your fault, but there's nothing we can do about it, have some painkillers, long term physiotherapy would be better for you and might even enable you to get back to having a part-time job again, but we can't afford to give you that" illnesses.