Equating bad decisions (from our or even general societal points of view) with someone being a "bad person" isn't really the right way to look at the concern.

Equating bad decisions (from our or even general societal points of view) with someone being a "bad person" isn't really the right way to look at the concern. The fact that bad decisions (again from a given point of view) are made has to do with the duration of the view. From my experience, people that spend their last money on drugs are looking for a relief, even if it lasts from a few minutes to a couple of hours of that high. This is the time that they don't have to face their situation. From that point of view, the decision is sound to them. Addiction is a very powerful thing, but it need not be chemical, it could very well be emotional. The motivation is an extremely important item to consider. Proponents of the food stamps and other specific-use assistance programs point to the fact that they deter bad use. However, one can still buy fast-food with it and end-up more unhealthy and worse of. Personally, I am of a very strong belief that as a society, we need to work to address root causes that together combine to contribute to the poverty rates. Some relatively straightforward ones - real universal healthcare (and mental health) and universal education to at least bachelors level. If we really want to eliminate the notion of poverty, we need to figure out universal income question, but the economic consequences of this still need to be worked out. Universal healthcare and education are economic no-brainers when not completely bastardized by corporate interests... (in my own view at least.)