I read the March 6 story “Stigmas remain around medication” in order to learn about substance abuse and treatments. I’ve always wondered why some people become addicted while others do not.

But when I read the quotes by Rachel Shuster, I quickly lost interest. “There’s certainly an element of choice when someone uses drugs, but I guarantee most people — even without problematic substance use history — have used drugs,” she said. “We’re all rolling the dice. Every time we take a sip of alcohol, it’s rolling the dice.”

Really? That seems just a wee bit alarmist. Comparing a glass of wine with dinner to someone injecting heroin makes no sense. Comparing a responsible adult enjoying a cognac at home to people who drive under the influence does not help me understand addiction. In fact, it makes me less understanding.

When you make statements such as Shuster’s, you are not helping responsible people understand the problem.

Phil Kriley, Renfrew