Jump to content
The Corroboree
DiscoStu

Do You Give Money To A Junkie Knowing It Will Feed Their Addiction?

  

21 members have voted

You do not have permission to vote in this poll, or see the poll results. Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.

Recommended Posts

On the one hand, you are enabling a harmful habit. On the other, if you don't they may get it ways which will harm another person.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

With 'true' junkies, do you really have a choice? You know, with the knives and guns and such. Peaceful begging is not really their MO.

Even if you give them some money, do you really think that will prevent them from robbing someone else?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

With 'true' junkies, do you really have a choice? You know, with the knives and guns and such. Peaceful begging is not really their MO.

Even if you give them some money, do you really think that will prevent them from robbing someone else?

well I remember when I was younger my brother was friends with addict. He's actually a really good guy and we were all friends when he got clean. But he stole an expensive drill from my Dad's shed one day, which rightly angered my Dad. I suppose in this instance would have giving him money prevented this? Or would he have eventually stolen something regardless?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm sure he would have stolen something eventually. Even tough addicts always say, one last hit then I'm through with this shit, it never quite works out like that.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Nice topic stu.

It is complex in that I don't find it a simple yes or no answer.

Depends what you mean by 'Junkie'.

If it's someone I know, and I know how their addiction exhibits (and what they are addicted to) - I have at least some vague basis for knowing what will happen if I give them money or not, and whether or not it's a good thing. But then again, if it's someone you know very well, it's rarely as simple as just giving the money or not. Say they're a friend or family member, what else is going on? How does the money fit in with what they are doing (or not doing, or doing involuntarily or not) to combat their addiction and deal with whatever else they (inevitably) have going on in their lives.

A person that you don't know, out in the street - what then? Depends on how they act and come across. I don't take well to menaces/muggings - if I did hand over money in that circumstance, it would be for pragmatic rather than charitable reasons. But that's not most people asking/begging for money in public. I haven't usually given money to people begging, but a story from a person I know made me think.

They had a young man begging in the street ask them for money. My friend went away, broke a note and came back with a Vegemite scroll, a soft-drink and a smaller amount of money, handed them over, then sat and talked with him for a while. The man said that they were the first person that had acknowledged his existence all day - that it was like he was invisible. He clearly appreciated the gesture, as well as the food and money. Was he an addict? My friend certainly could not rule it out, so maybe he did spend the money on drugs. And yet their kindness and effort to make another person feel better - even if just for a little while - I can't help but feel a like I could do better than pretend that those people begging for money (possibly to supply their habit) don't exist.

  • Like 6

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It's pretty standard around my way to demanding humiliating sexual favours and/or the ownership the addicts soul before giving away money or drugs.

Just yesterday in the pre-punch up sas talk one junkie said

I own your soul

the other one replied

I don't have a soul, I'm the devil.

The fight didn't live up to the hype, but the pre fight banter was memorable.

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

We have had a friend of the family deal with heroin addiction since we have know her. It is very hard to watch her fall back into bad habits and i have given her money that im sure has gone towards scoring.

But there came a time we as a family watched her spiral out of control one two many times. So now we have cut her out of our lives completely, which is sad because she is a wonderful pesron while she is sober.

She may or may not come back into our lives sober but i wont lend her money again.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Was he an addict? My friend certainly could not rule it out, so maybe he did spend the money on drugs. And yet their kindness and effort to make another person feel better - even if just for a little while - I can't help but feel a like I could do better than pretend that those people begging for money (possibly to supply their habit) don't exist.

If what we were discussing in the Rethinking addiction thread is right, then most addicts only have a hope of getting better if they have some kind of social interaction. I believe that grouping people together by their addictions (or perceived addictions) is not a way to make to the situation better.

I mean, when you form an opinion about someone based on a group that you perceive them to be a part of... that's prejudice, isn't it? If the "group" was "Japanese people", you would be called racist. But everyone loves to hate junkies, so it's okay. And yeah, I'm not totally naive, I understand that some, maybe many heroin addicts are also thieves & liars and horrible people. (But y'know, so are non-junkies). And if you discriminate against them because they are thieves and liars and horrible people, well and good. Not lending money to someone who never pays you back is a perfectly logical stance. But I have known people who took it much further, not only saying that they wouldn't lend money to junkies, but actually refusing to pay money owed (eg. to employees or trade partners) who they perceived as having drug issues "because they'll just spend it on drugs" - this was how they rationalised their own theft in this situation. Was that reasonable? Do you think the victims in that situation, if they did have drug addictions, would be any more likely to clean up their acts after being ripped off by this bigot? Or would they be less likely, because it was yet another step in our society's direction of isolating & dehumanising addicts?

You can refuse to actively contribute to someone's addiction, and still interact with them & treat them as a fellow human being. For example, you may not want to give the homeless alcoholic man at the train station any more money for booze, but you can give him a sandwich & say hello. You don't need to lend your meth-addict brother any more money, but you can still answer the phone when he calls.

I understand that we don't want our hard-earned money to go to undeserving people - but if you really care about that, then vote left and lobby for real changes to our tax & welfare systems - these are bleeding us of far more money than the most conniving addicts could ever hope to. Don't take it out on the junky who asks you for a dollar. It's just easier to say "no" than "yes".

  • Like 8

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great idea for a thread DiscoStu :)

A few years back i used to work on a council crew

Most of the crew passionately hated people who they perceived to be homeless/alcoholic/junkies, that contribute nothing to society

They thought i was stupid for chatting to them, and giving them the change in my pocket. Often times saying "you know they will just spend those coins on beer and smokes"

I would sit there and think, but you buy 2 packs of smokes per day and drink 6 beers every night at the pub, and if you think your contributing to society then why do you spend all day avoiding as much work as possible?

I guess its easier to make a snap judgments on others, then it is to take a hard honest look at yourself and judge your own actions.

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I just say I work for my fix mother fucker and keep on walking.

the idea is that we can't solve everyone's problems when were engaged in our own. if I could i would save the world but even micheal jackson couldn't do that and I'm not going to try walk a mile in his moonwalkers.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

thanks everyone.

so here's a question. let's say you give your heroin addicted friend money for a fix, but that was the one which they OD'd on.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Junkie is pretty harsh word hey. Soon as someone thinks or hears the word stereotypical images confound the brain. The images conflict with what you see and what you think you see.

When you see the jun kie do you see the person or just a representation of what you have foirmed opions of over the years.

As many people on this site would poly users i would definatekly chuck some coin at the person because i know what it's like to feel invisible to the rest of the ants scurrying around me in their suits, making time and deadlines and sucking up to the man. Stu mend this is a very complex question.

Do you compassion the situation or do you go like Wert reckons - and be cool Wert wert just talking here brah, keep that awesome fire of yours chilled.

Personally, i've done the whole walk away and buy the person a drink and a sanga from 7/11 and that particular individual followed me all the way up Swanston st in the melbz cbd frothing away yelling abuse at me - i kept walking but my fists were clenched because i realised today -at that moment - i was his target to let off steam at that point in the day.

The worst thing is that as a race , it's inbuilt in us to reject any foreign material from our garb.

Some addicts will never clean up and will go on to die a miserable death but this does not preclude you from judging them.

I've seen people react to charity as if they are giving the green light to someone fucking you up the arse with an ebola condom but as for my response........

i'd give them whatever change i could afford at that particular moment and move on with my own life and hope that they reach that cesspit rock bottom and then see the reason why life is worth living.

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

when I first posed this question I specifically had strangers in mind, in particular people begging on the street.

people you see begging for money who you don't know for certain, but can certainly give a 90% probability they're addicts, do you give them money?

I like the idea of giving beggars food rather than money, in the great majority if you give a beggar food they'll share it with their cohorts, so in reality you're helping more than just the person in front of you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

when I first posed this question I specifically had strangers in mind, in particular people begging on the street.

people you see begging for money who you don't know for certain, but can certainly give a 90% probability they're addicts, do you give them money?

I like the idea of giving beggars food rather than money, in the great majority if you give a beggar food they'll share it with their cohorts, so in reality you're helping more than just the person in front of you.

yeah i agree man. legitimate hunger(for nutrition) versus hunger(for drugga) is a guessing game huh? but who are YOU or I to judge?

Philanthropy huh? What a mess.

Do they look malnourished from lack of vitamins from no food or the scabs and bruises allude to something more sinister

Once a woman asked me for a couple of bucks for train fare so i gave her a fiver - which i thought was enough anywhere on vicrail back in the day - she fucking spat at me so my misses slugged her.

who's the badder person now?

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

well, how can I tell a person is an addict? it's their mannerisms, 9/10 times they're high when asking you for money, you can see people nodding off in the side with a begging towel in front of them, they ask and they have a certain "way" about them,

but heck I'll admit I'm naive and probably wrong

I'll also admit I don't give money or food, but because I'm a povver myself,

but generosity isn't the issue here, I wanted to pose a general question of morality, kind of like the trolley problem I suppose,

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

in responce to e- drifter.

yes I always used to hand out change and notes in some cases but I to had a confrontation on yes... swanston st melb.

I'd already given the guy five bucks then he tried to jump me.

had me in a choke hold and I fucking whipped his arse pretty quickly being alot higher on crystal than he was obviously!

that and the day the commonwealth bank broke down and I was relying on my pay for smokes standing on flinders at the atm going wtf!

asked so many peeps for a smoke and no one bothered with me except for one giy after about an hour said I feel you man take these... it was a half full pack of 25's that I just refused to take! I told him I had money just stuck in the bank all I wanted was a puff. so after a decent conversation with this stranger he left with his smokes and I ended up with 3. I tried my arse off to jist get one but he was insistent on helping me out.

those two occasions sum things up transversly. help a junky in need and risk being seen as a weaker person.

help someone in need and you have to enforce restrictions on there generosity???

Edited by wert
  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

oh and just to clarify things on my behalf. I am not rich. I don't have alot of money. never have due to owing dealers, infringment officers and the ATO. so all the junkys that got my money were really fucking lucky. really lucky!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

in responce to e- drifter.

yes I always used to hand out change and notes in some cases but I to had a confrontation on yes... swanston st melb.

I'd already given the guy five bucks then he tried to jump me.

had me in a choke hold and I fucking whipped his arse pretty quickly being alot higher on crystal than he was obviously!

that and the day the commonwealth bank broke down and I was relying on my pay for smokes standing on flinders at the atm going wtf!

asked so many peeps for a smoke and no one bothered with me except for one giy after about an hour said I feel you man take these... it was a half full pack of 25's that I just refused to take! I told him I had money just stuck in the bank all I wanted was a puff. so after a decent conversation with this stranger he left with his smokes and I ended up with 3. I tried my arse off to jist get one but he was insistent on helping me out.

those two occasions sum things up transversly. help a junky in need and risk being seen as a weaker person.

help someone in need and you have to enforce restrictions on there generosity???

onya matey. good to see peeps talkn instaead of worrying how they look

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

As Anodyne stated - everyone loves to hate junkies

I'm surrounded by junkies from a lower socio economic bracket and it seems the ultimate insult is to call someone a junkie, even if the person hurling the insults is a junkie themselves. It seems that any form of belittlement can be tolerated quite well but when they declare the adversary a junkie it really cuts deeper than anything else. So even junkies hate junkies when situation suits them.

& before I went to Perth and I was rubbing shoulders with the who's who of the upper crust, I would have agreed that mainly heroin addicts were liars and horrible people, but many upper class sons and daughters of multi millionaire parents used heroin and in some ways it was status symbol - they could be seen to have an expensive habit that had minimal impact on their professional lives and still be functional members of society. The fact that they could afford a habit costing thousands every week was a point of envy for some.

Now that I'm in a much less affluent area where ice has become the drug of choice (heroin is still around) I see a much lower class of people addicted to ice that seem much worse than any of the high class heroin users I rubbed shoulders with in Perth.

I find that many people can have drug addictions & still lead (mostly) productive lives if they have the financial resources to sustain it - up to a point (in some cases it's it's just a veneer), but if the money runs out all hell breaks loose.

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

yep sally. yep.

I'm over my iv use. 8 yrs now. but I'm an extreme alcoholic. have been for 12 or so yrs.

I've always maintained sustainable employment up untill about 3 yrs ago when the meth just broke me to peices.

you make a valid point.

I'm pissed I should go to bed.

love and respect to all.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

generosity isn't the issue here, I wanted to pose a general question of morality, kind of like the trolley problem I suppose,

But if I'm busy ignoring the junkies & their requests for money & pretending they don't exist... won't that make it difficult to push them in front of the trolley? :scratchhead:

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It's complicated.

The heroin enthusiasts who hang out in the park on my street and jeer at and verbally abuse pretty much everyone who passes by? No, fuck those guys, they're jerks. They're old and bitter and just seem to want to hurt anything that gets near.

The heroin enthusiasts who offered their bupe to me when I was in bad pain after discount surgery? Hell yes, they're good people and I try to help them them out anytime I can.

I grew up with an addict brother and that bit in 'Just One Fix' by Ministry where Burroughs drones 'Never trust a junkyyyy' was my life motto.

I've come round since then because I really think anyone can mess up a bit and end up with a substance abuse problem. Acting like it's the end of the world and you're now permanently a fucking pariah doesn't seem to help anyone, or society as far as I can see. I have trusted 'junkies' and my life is better for it.

People are people, you don't stop being a person just because you messed up and got into some bad patterns.

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×