LogFAQs > #909846435

OhhhJa posted...

You arent helping them by giving them money. Helping them get a beer? Yeah probably.

Then I hope it gives them some brief comfort or happiness. At the end of the day, for most of these people, that's really all I can hope for.

I'm not going to judge how they choose to spend their money. I gave - and will continue to give - them an opportunity to better their situation. If they choose not to take advantage, that's up to them.

OhhhJa posted...

You stop providing an outlet for that addiction and they have at least some incentive to try to function.

I have literally never heard anyone who has any experience with homelessness (either helping people escape it or being homeless themselves) say this.

Addiction is a form of self-medication - these people have a problem of some sort and substance abuse is their way to address that problem. An unhealthy way, yes, but as long as the problem remains so will the addiction. This is true of both the guys overdosing in a back alley somewhere and the celebrities who throw wild, coked-up parties every weekend on their yacht.

Removing the "outlet" for the addiction solves nothing. If you have an addict and take away his poison of choice, you get a sober addict. That's all.
---

Kill 1 man: You are a murderer. Kill 10 men: You are a monster.
Kill 100 men: You are a hero. Kill 10,000 men, you are a conqueror!