Neither, they should be held responsible for their actions. Only a change in their actions can change the outcome. Treatment is a nonsense word in this application. "Treatment" is just a way to use social tricks to get them to make different choices while making them believe it's a disease so they don't resist treatment. Real treatment for alcoholism is a liver transplant. Real treatment for obesity is liposuction. They only way to stop damaging yourself is to take responsibility and stop doing what you've been doing. Telling people they are powerless robs them of their dignity and is an outright lie. The person with the problem is the only one with the power to change! The treatment industry in America is a racket that is mostly based on the AA 12 Steps. At best it has a 5% success rate. (http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-effectiveness.html) If you want a good book on the subject, read Rational Recovery http://www.amazon.com/Rational-Recovery-Cure-Substance-Addic...