Hi Joe,
I still have a bit of a problem comparing substance addiction with cult involvement even though the Soul Snatchers author Abgrall did describe similar characteristics in ways that made sense to me and fit. Addiction to substances is a bona fide, diagnosable and incurable disease. Also, addiction to substances is physical. Not so with the addictive characteristics of being in a cult. So I think it's helpful and informative to look at the model of addictiveness as Abgrall set forth in order to compare how addictions to substances may be similar to cult involvement, vis a vis, addiction to a certain way of thinking, thought distortion, and reform, it isn't the same exact thing at all.
Just thought I'd throw a monkey wrench into the discussion. lol 
