'Adaptation' is not the best term for it. Self-medication, coping mechanism yes. It's a maladaptive pattern which some of us are predispositioned to. Addiction derails peoples lives to the point that they adapt to it, just as their body adapts to develop the addiction; everything in their lives revolves around it.

Seeking safety I don't think is the main root cause. many drug-takers are at heart adrenaline junkies, risk-taker. There's a tendency toward self-destruction I think every person has in some degree. Can't necessarily romanticize addicts as lost-souls in need of healing. I have known many addicts, all types of substances, all types of people, so this is from experience.

There are definitely circumstances around certain drugs which make the addiction much worse (aspects of it's culture, procuration, etc) One thing that helps is fighting the stigma,like what you do here. Criminalizing addicts, or even drugs, makes the issue worse personally and socially.