The way I see it, happiness is a derivative, meaning you can't directly influence your happiness, you can only do things that might influence it.
The struggle is optimizing that activity to deliver happiness in the best way. Your example about heroin is a really good one, because while it's one of the most direct ways to happiness, it does it in the worst way imaginable.
But I don't think it's a catch-22 because people achieve it in vastly different ways. My buddy likes going clubbing on the weekends, it brings him loads of happiness, I personally would not be happy spending time that way. Likewise I love going outdoors and hiking, and I'm pretty sure he would be miserable in my form of "happiness".
The struggle is optimizing that activity to deliver happiness in the best way. Your example about heroin is a really good one, because while it's one of the most direct ways to happiness, it does it in the worst way imaginable.
But I don't think it's a catch-22 because people achieve it in vastly different ways. My buddy likes going clubbing on the weekends, it brings him loads of happiness, I personally would not be happy spending time that way. Likewise I love going outdoors and hiking, and I'm pretty sure he would be miserable in my form of "happiness".