Alcohol is a very American answer:
Its a way to piss money away and make a problem seemingly subsied. Really it makes you numb to the problems, and creates an addiction which inflates spending. Teh problem then becomes tolerant and needs more and more eventually the problem begins to affect others. The others care deeply, and create groups for the sole purpose of curing the alcoholic's problems. It never works, as alcoholism is the easy ticket out. And eventually the alcoholic will subside to it again. Its metephorical irony!

Bipper