The pandemic causes nothing, just like alcohol or other drugs cause nothing, rather it is our response to the pandemic and our relationship to alcohol and other drugs that produce the outcome. The spreading of the virus is PREVENTABLE, meaning that if we follow scientific protocol the spread will be halted and we will not get sick. Experiencing addiction is preventable if, as a society, we educate people to recognize one's suceptibility. IOW prevention is rooted in understanding that NOT everyone can experience addiction. Not everyone is vulnerable to the experience of addiction, and for that we should be thankful otherwise the landscape would look like "The Wallking Dead". No matter though because every person experiencing addiction is worthy of treatment based on compassion and evidence-based protocols.