While I agree with treating drug abuse as a health issue - and Especially not a matter of law enforcement, I'm not sure it directly addresses homelessness. Dru

While I agree with treating drug abuse as a health issue - and Especially not a matter of law enforcement, I'm not sure it directly addresses homelessness. Drugs tend to be an escape, as are addictions to said escape. Most people I've known with drug issues have far deeper issues, the pain of which their addictions tend to alleviate if at least for the moment. Sure, some find peace in work or family or friends or creative endeavors or what-have-you, but some tend to find solace in the ability to not think or more specifically not dwell on the pain of living - especially living a life unkind. The best you can do is replace one drug with another (eg. methodone), but the inherent problem tends to be mental - and as of yet there's no cure for the human condition. If a dependency on a drug is abolished, what comes next? Someone who has fallen beyond of the reaches of society due to escapism isn't going to suddenly become a productive member just because they no longer crave a substance. A person will continue to deal with their world as they know best. Drugs don't make a person give up on society, they just make it a little easier to live with not fitting into it as well as everyone else seems to.