To expand on your crutches metaphor: But some people need crutches permanently (like my husband), not just temporarily. The crutches go beyond just being a temporary aid; they are actually necessary to be able to do the living in the first place. My husband will never be able to walk without crutches; in fact, he'll probably move into a wheelchair soon. No amount of will power or healthy living or therapy (physical or otherwise) is going to fix that. Those aids can't be taken away without him being pretty much left bed ridden. Medication can very well be that important and that necessary for some.