Like I said in my post, it's only a matter of time until you encounter it first hand, especially if you take a short stroll through select neighborhoods in most large cities. Its obvious you've thought about the issue but I urge you to engage with it by witnessing it first hand. Addicts are people too - they deserve compassion from society just as much as you or I do.

My sister is a heroin addict I've encountered enough =)

Also I have lived in Salem, Oregon look up it's statistics.

Just because my heart doesn't bleed for people who wouldn't do shit to help you doesn't mean I don't understand the problem.

Fair enough - sounds like we may irreconcilable ethical differences. Maybe I'll get more exposed to the issue and more jaded over time. Thanks for explaining your perspective.

I got up to get something to eat and the restaurant I wanted to eat at couldn't open because a group of heroin addicts outside sleeping on the steps refused to move until they were given food.

That was about 40 minutes ago.

The police don't care about that?

The local Walgreens is now closed between the hours of 12AM - 6AM because the police won't respond to any theft calls during this time.

seems like a power play the restaurant could win by grabbing some taco bell.

This was at 6AM - Taco Bell near it doesn't open until 7AM silly!

I think what is becoming clear now is that not all opiate addicts are recreational users. Many are victims of inappropriate prescriptions and lack of follow-up and supervision.

For how long though? Having watched it first hand you can make whatever excuse you want for the first use, bad boyfriend, pharma industry, etc.

My sister has been on heroin for probably 8 years now. She will call and ask for money and if anyone says no she spouts this same bullshit about it's not her fault etc. and she's an addict. We send her to rehab, she runs away, can't even tell you how many times I've seen it.

Her 4 kids are taken away from her she doesn't even attempt to visit them in any capacity.

Look close enough at a heroin addict you'll find a regular shitty person underneath it.

And that stinks. For everybody involved. You can only do your best.

But it sounds like you're writing them all off, writing the problem off, as something that's just unavoidable, untreatable. It can be both avoided and treated, it just doesn't always work.

Why didn't you notice the dirtiness before heroin?

The main point of my post was that them being shitty "because of heroine" is a false premise.

You're going to have to teach that automated robot to rob cars, prostitute, shoplift, neglect children, and beg for money on the streets too, if you want it to be realistic.

Even if you gave up on sympathy for addicts (and I understand, I was in Portland and have been along that hellish amtrak line) - the problem affects all of us, whether we like it or not.