Instead of coping with alcohol, I read math textbooks and do problems.
This has improved my life dramatically. I feel good. I feel proud. And despite optimizing for happiness as opposed to wealth, this coping strategy has made me loads of money.
I should mention my cancer occurred in my childhood, so it's not as though my drinking was a cause.
Considering that about 40 million adult Americans are on anti-depressants (smoking and drinking aside), it seems like more of an issue then just failing physical health of the elderly.
Still, smokers not wanting the last 20 do themselves a disservice by disabling themselves and their hopes of redemption. They often do not die sudden deaths that bring them respite, instead many spend years struggling for breath hooked to oxygen tanks. I think these initially rebellious smokers see themselves as going out in a blaze of glory, but COPD is anything but.