Nine more people chose to continue indulging their addiction with, in these cases, fatal consequences.

Does that sound harsh to you?  Well, it's true.  The proof?  Some addicts choose to reclaim their lives from the slavery of addiction and get clean.  Some do make that choice.  Ergo, it is a matter of choice.  I don't say it's any easy choice but it is choice.

Addiction is not a choice but indulging it is.