@gemswinc @LnzyHou There are no easy answers. It's always going to be a process. People will take advantage of the system, all of that is a cold reality.

Even though some people will take advantage, or not ultimately improve, what does that have to do with me though, and us collectively in showing compassion.

It seems to me doing more good would be better than counting the cost of the random failure to reach.

@gemswinc @LnzyHou You will not shame someone, or incarcerate someone out of addiction. Addiction is a response to misery, and a lack of connection, empathy, and treatment in one's life.

Doubling down on these things won't help the person, but it will damn them.

It's true some people will not recover. But what if we took that same approach to cancer or any other medical/psychological illness.

"Well you're always going to be depressed, so just, ya know... go with it?"

@NiveusLepus
"Addiction is a response to misery, and a lack of connection, empathy, and treatment in one's life."

yes, no question.

studies on rats show that they only tap the drug lever when they are isolated from other rats, without anything to do. they're owed and lonely, disconnected from life's rat purposes.

of course they choose drugs😭

@NiveusLepus @gemswinc @LnzyHou

As an addict diagnosed with major depressive disorder, I am happy to see this conversation taking place. 💜✨️

@BosmangBeratna @NiveusLepus @gemswinc

I’m glad you’re here 💙

@NiveusLepus @gemswinc @LnzyHou My brother in law drank himself to death, and one thing he had in abundance the entire time was shame. He had enough shame for half the country. Shame was the one thing he did NOT need more of.

Because of course he drank to numb his shame that he'd lost control of his life due to drinking.

@danialexis Sorry to hear that. Indeed, addiction & homelessness are hard enough without fines & jail. Good grief @NiveusLepus @LnzyHou

@NiveusLepus @gemswinc @LnzyHou
In my online cancer support group, I read a lot of accounts from women who have been fighting to get any treatment. My sister-in-law died of cancer without ever receiving treatment. The approach you describe, does already exist for cancer patients - it just doesn't hit everyone equally because it is tied to age, race, obesity, and other variables.

@publickovacs @gemswinc @LnzyHou That's heart breaking :(

@publickovacs @NiveusLepus @gemswinc

Unimaginable cruelty tied to greed.

@NiveusLepus @gemswinc

There are those who afford cigarettes and cell phones. Clearly, their lifestyle is a choice.

Until it isn’t.

@LnzyHou That never bothers me. So what?A Cell phone is an absolute necessity if they are ever to work or be homed. As for cigarettes, every human needs their comforts, and those things do not add up to monthly rent. @NiveusLepus

@gemswinc @NiveusLepus

Both often disqualify them from aid.

@LnzyHou @gemswinc @NiveusLepus Except for some it's the only means of contact with the social services in the first place. "Obama" phones specifically are the bridge between lost in the void of no contact obtained and receiving what care and support the state can provide to the disadvantaged. (Hi I use the lifeline services for this purpose.)

@PaganMother @gemswinc @NiveusLepus

Thanks for enlightening us.

@LnzyHou @gemswinc @NiveusLepus Something else about this case with scotus that bothers me is that there are legally homeless people living with family and friends that cannot afford to get an address of their own for various different reasons. What will happen to them?

@PaganMother If they're housed in someway, I don't see how this would affect them @LnzyHou @NiveusLepus

@gemswinc @LnzyHou @NiveusLepus I can only hope. I'm living in a situation like that myself with my son and my husband staying at my mother in laws place. We've often had to contest with the state to receive food benefits and medical care between there are two households here under the same address, not just one that the state expects.

@PaganMother Thanks for sharing with us. I wish you much luck, but again, I don't think this will affect you @LnzyHou @NiveusLepus

@gemswinc @LnzyHou @NiveusLepus Thank you and I hope not. I really hope that they don't agree with the ban.

@LnzyHou @NiveusLepus There but for the grace of well, grace go we! I can imagine ending up homeless even with the privilege I now enjoy. Life can easily go awry. Look at Gaza, Ukraine..

@NiveusLepus @gemswinc @LnzyHou Finland is exemplary in many ways. And I agree with this entire post.

@NiveusLepus A small, cohesive country can more easily deal with the problem, than a large one full of emnity. City by city, county by county, it could be workable @LnzyHou