I was wondering and asking really. Hence the ?

Constant drug taking/drinking/bulimia etc. takes its toll and there might well be an average for people who have the money and opportunity to do it in a certain way i.e. not having to sober up for a 9 - 5 job, say. Also there is some discussion about whether people who try to dry out on their own too fast and without medical help and supervision can die from shock.  It happened to a friend of mine.