Addiction is a topic that causes a lot of controversy nowadays. With news about Demi Lovato's hospitalization and Mac Miller's death, it has once again come to the forefront of Internet discussions. And by discussions, I mean fights.

Whenever people debate whether addiction is a choice or a disease, I think about the study done on rats some time ago that is still relevant today. It's often called the Rat Park Experiment.

In it, rats are put in a small, empty cage and given the choice between two water bottles: one with normal water and one laced with drugs. Most of the rats chose the drug water over the normal water.

However, if you know anything about rats, you know that small, empty cages are not suitable living conditions. So Canadian psychologist Bruce K. Alexander and colleagues built a perfect habitat for the rats called Rat Park.

In this large cage, 16-20 rats lived together and had access to toys, shelters, food, and the ability to choose a mate. They were given the same choice in drinking water. This time, however, they overwhelmingly chose the normal water over the drug water.

Later studies have shown that one's environment is only one of many complex factors that influence whether someone becomes an addict or not. However, it's not a factor that should be ignored.

This can be seen in humans who become addicted to drugs and alcohol as well. Small towns frequently have drug problems, partially because they are isolated communities and young people often feel trapped in them.

A lot of celebrities become addicted to drugs because, ironically, the life of a celebrity makes genuine human connection difficult.

Many people who become addicts are disadvantaged in some way and looking to escape their problems.

That's not to say that this is true in 100 percent of cases. Sometimes people are stupid, or lazy or uncaring. And sometimes people refuse to change once they've realized they made a mistake.

However, lumping everyone suffering from addiction under one label just screws everyone over. When it comes to treatment and cost of said treatment, such a complicated issue should be handled on a case by case basis.

Of course, this is too much to ask of our broken healthcare system right now.

The people who make an effort to better themselves deserve our support and empathy, even and especially if they slip up. Recovery is not linear and relapse is not a personal failure.

I don't say this to downplay the horrible ways some addicts treat their family and friends. Abusive people are deplorable no matter what their excuse is. There is no valid excuse for continually treating people like garbage.

However, as we are becoming more and aware and accepting of mental illness, let's remember that addiction is just as much a mental illness like depression or anxiety.

It may have started with one decision in many cases, but if someone is making a genuine effort, they should not be judged by that one mistake.

In fact, nobody should be judged by one mistake, but by their pattern of behavior and the path they choose for themselves time and time again.