A drug addict will always find new excuses to consume drugs. Just like that any addict, it doesn’t matter what he is addicted to, we’ll find a way to get back in his addiction. I generally have seen some people stop their addiction because they were somehow facing some problems because of their addiction. The people who are smart stay away from those things. People who are careful, stops the addiction as soon as it starts harming them. However, those who lack sagacity or struggle to exert control over their own cognitive faculties find themselves perpetually ensnared by their compulsions. It is true for both drugs and gambling. And those people who understand very well that they are harming themselves by doing so, I have zero sympathy for them. If you cannot control what you are doing, it is your fault, learn to take accountability.
Talk about any addiction whether it be drugs, sex or gambling, it is that the person like that activity too much that he can't live without it and this make him addicted to this. People who are addicted have no control over themselves to refrain from those activities and therefore we can them addicted.
I think its a misconception on your part to assume that addicts cant live without whatever they are addicted to, it is more proper to say that they cant feel relaxed when ever they are yet to satisfy their addiction, if it was possible for addicts not to live without what ever they are addicted in, we did find many of them drop dead immediately the urge of their addiction comes and they do not satisfy it immediately, its just like a normal human being cant do without breathing, and once they seize to breath and there is no immediate remedy around, be sure that such person will die in a couple of minutes .
So addictions, whether it be gambling or sex or alcohol, drugs or smoking, all causes nothing but stress, when the urge comes and its not satisfied, it doesn't cause anyone to drop dead, else, we will not see people who testify of coming out from addiction successfully.
Coming to gambling ,the addiction is far more as there is an urge to get more money and this make the addiction even stronger. Anyone who is an alcoholic addict's, only need to drink and smoke etc, but a gambler have greediness in mind which makes it even more dangerous and hard to overcome.
Sorry but i will have to disagree with you again, the worst addiction is that one which damages the victim health, Brain and general ability to live long and also live in good health, smoking, drugs, alcohol, sex all does that, a gambling addict can still live to the fullest of his life cycle if he or she knows how well to manage his or her addiction, but for those who are addicted to drugs, alcohol, women and smoking, there is no two ways to manage and keep such addiction from negatively affecting the victims health .