*precisely*
These are the commonalities that nearly, if all addicts share:
1) They will do just about anything to continue to use, and to hide their use. Lies, deception, manipulation, charm, money, love... whatever is at their disposal.
2) The substance is not their problem. *They* are the problem. The *only* way to recover is to make profound individual changes.
3) Take any addict, and ask them if they can be in a room full of people and still feel alone. The addict will always answer "yes".
Other than those three things, the rest is a toss up. Could be a lawyer (cough... mayor), street sweeper (do they exist anymore?), musician,
dentist, alley-dweller, ichthyologist. Anything. They might have a job. They might not. They could be thin (if the choice is substance vs. food) or rotund (with sufficient enablers, binge use, alcohol consumption, who knows).
Related, but not: I had a client once who was an active, injection Heroin user. Was also taking methadone. Supplementing with crack on occasion. Homeless (more or less). He was 400 lbs. How? I honestly have no idea. Just the way it is.
Delurking to say I'm a nurse. I've dealt with addicts in various healthcare settings. I'd compare the visibility of addicts to that of an iceburg. The addict of the alley is just what's visible, particularly when it comes to alcohol. I've seen all walks of life seriously addicted. Poverty doesn't make an addict, it usually just determines your choice of substance(s).
*goes back to lurkdom*