Absolutely. The reminder that people are adults who make their own choices and Alicia can't protect everyone, even from themselves. Even though Nick was the older brother, I think in many ways Alicia took on the role of older sibling when he became a drug addict, trying to pick up the pieces.
Thinking of complicated sibling relationships, what's your backstory with Raven, Charles and Erik? I adored their dynamic in the newer movies!