Drug addiction is relevant to sentencing not merely as a mitigating factor but through its bearing on moral culpability, general deterrence, and rehabilitation prospects. The circumstances leading to the addiction — including the offender's age at commencement, social disadvantage, and emotional deprivation — are relevant to assessing moral culpability. A sentencing judge may have regard to whether the addiction has continued or is being treated in tailoring the sentence to the offender's personal circumstances.
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