She much prefers Mary to alcohol. She very rarely drinks because she hates the taste and the way it makes her feel. On the one hand, I feel like she is picking the lesser of two evils. In my opinion, alcohol is one of the things that is ruining our society, but that is another discussion. However, like your friend, she is psychologically addicted and making herself unhealthy. And spending hundreds of MY dollars every month so they can hang out. She uses it to help her with anxiety, but as I mentioned, I think it's actually made it worse over time. And now she's made her whole social world revolve around Mary and fears what a life without her would be like... all new friends? Starting over? That thought terrifies her even more. I am a staunch advocate for Mary when she is truly helping the right person with the right condition -- but I do feel it's a dangerously slippery slope for many, especially the young whose frontal lobes are not yet finished being developed and decision-making is not at its best.