>> Spending non-prison public dollars on peoples' heroin addiction (while potentially a good idea), will never happen in the U.S. before the heat death of the universe.

Oh can you imagine the horror!

"Our tax dollars are going on keeping them no-good junkies in smack! Not on my watch!"

Even if it was the best thing for law and order, for society, for everyone.... yeah I know, it'll just never fly.