Dr. Schaler makes a frontal attack on the doctrine that people can't control what they do, that they shouldn't be held responsible for their actions, and that they should be able to excuse practically anything they do by claiming to be a victim. This is a particularly powerful book because Schaler tackles the toughest cases, namely drug and alcohol addiction. If he can show these are behaviors of choice within one's control, then he demolishes the defense of irresponsibility. People can stop depending on drugs or alcohol as they develop other ways to deal with life. Addiction has more to do with environments people live in than with the drugs they are addicted to.
People often outgrow drug and alcohol addiction.
Alcoholics and drug addicts can learn to moderate their drinking or cut down on their drug use. People become addicted to alcohol and other drugs when life is going badly for them. Drug addicts and alcoholics can and often do find their own ways out of their addictions, without outside help. You have to rely on yourself to overcome an addiction. Drug addiction is often a way of life people rely on to cope with, or avoid coping with, the world.