It's tough but not impossible to overcome this sort of thing. In my experience I think that in a twisted way that kind of messed up situation can actually be be

It's tough but not impossible to overcome this sort of thing. In my experience I think that in a twisted way that kind of messed up situation can actually be beneficial given you've got the right personality traits. For me the same traits that predispose me to being an addict are the very same ones that predispose me to entrepreneurship and date I say success even. I think it's a combination of obsession and compulsively chasing something that gives you a rush that can actually make addicts amazingly successful. Those traits can be equally beneficial or detrimental depending on how you focus them. Do you see any of that in your friend? I sometimes go back to the program that allowed me to get the charges dropped and speak to addicts and I always tell them that despite what the world tells them they're in a unique position to take their problem and turn it into the opposite. Consider the addict that hits bottom has no food, shelter or money but somehow manages to keep getting his fix. I know that I was beyond broke but nothing could stop me from getting what I craved. Now I swapped out craving a harmful thing for craving a beneficial thing and I channel my energy into achieving success now instead of a syringe full of dope. As an addict you're often forced to hustle just like in business. You also have to take a lot of shit and negativity from every which way. Apply that to business and you're almost impervious to being beaten down by inevitable failure. And lastly, the ability for someone to overcome a substance addiction at all shows that they have some serious will power and persistence. Dropping the habit isn't a one time deal. Almost all addicts must make multiple attempts and deal with relapse before finally succeeding. In business you'll also likely fail multiple times and having that prior experience and knowing someone has done something similar before is a pretty good indicator of how well they'll do if they apply themselves correctly. That said, it can't apply to everyome with that background. You've still got to have some degree of intelligence and we can never discount luck but all things considered I think people with that type of background come out the other side stronger, hungrier, and have the inborn traits needed to succeed if focused well.