Pirate, you have made the best 'case' for the "survivor" camp so far. I knew Steve, too..and kinda knew some of the others...
But the thing is, it would be one thing if these people didn't kill themselves. Ultimately, it was they that made that choice to end their lives. I don't think of myself as a "survivor." The word veteran is much closer to the reality of what straight is. We were drafted into the war on drugs in a sense, were we not? I'm gonna get high now. Peace, bro...take care.