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> If you're happily giving money to cocaine addicts then you're not being helpful at all. How about we don't conflate the two issues? People who have so littl
by ctrl-j 9y ago
> If you're happily giving money to cocaine addicts then you're not being helpful at all.
How about we don't conflate the two issues?
People who have so little money they can't afford food, should get assistance. Full stop.
Crack addicts who are so poor to require that same assistance probably need drug counseling and possible mental health assistance. In addition to the money for food.
If you think throwing it on a card or whatever will stop the addicts from buying drugs - you're mistaken.
Maybe we shouldn't treat people who are suffering as if they deserve their conditions. Maybe we should have more compassion for them, than we do for the corrupt wall street bankers who got massive bailouts in 2008.
- Para2016 9y agoYea, they should get assistance. Just not direct cash, I totally disagree with you in that regard. What they do need is drug counseling, psychiatric counseling, a safe place to stay, food provided for them, clothing, help finding a job and stable housing arrangement after they are sober. Giving a cocaine addict that is so poor they are living on the streets just cash, is unhelpful. Once they are sober and have proven they will responsibly use money for needed items, then you can give it to them. As a physician who sees plenty of county patients that are addicts - you know what happens when they get a bunch of money? They spend it on drugs, not on their neglected children or anything else in Maslow's hierarchy. Do-gooders who think handing cash to an addict is helpful, are wrong. You're just wrong and I completely disagree with you, I'm not conflating anything.
- ctrl-j 9y agoSo, just to be clear, it sounds you're arguing that we should put barriers on how good people who are homeless/broke should be able to spend their financial assistance - in order to prevent addicts from buying drugs. That sounds like conflating the issue of poverty with the issue of drug abuse. There is overlap, but I don't believe that the harm to addicts outweighs the help to the people struggling to survive.