I became addicted to alcohol and I know that it definitely seemed like it was doing something about my depression - something better, that is. It just made it worse. I wish I had known something - anything - back then about mental illness, and that I'd lived in a big enough town or city where getting help was an option. I suggest getting whatever help you can. Depression is serious, even though a lot of (non-understanding) people try to make it out as nothing more than a case of laziness and poor self-control.