Would you help out an addict on the street?

When someone is that out of it, it's hard to gauge how they might react.

Unfortunately the only solution might be juveniles in China/Japan/Korea/India etc

No, I'd cross the street to avoid them. I'm not in a position to help them anyway, what could I do? Give them money for more drugs? get a slap? Get vomited on? Stabbed with a needle?

Nope, not a chance, avoid, avoid, avoid!

I had a friend once at at bus stop who took a epileptic seizure everyone thought he overdosed on drugs he was lying on ground shaking and whole bus stop ignored him..

DellyBelly wrote: »

Wud definitely help someone if they were injured or a person was struggling with something heavy but when a person injects that poison or gets themselves pi55ed then I've zero sympathy

Ah yes, the luxury of ignorance.

I hear you op, it's a terrible indictment of us. Most people feel helpless however. It's a heavy burden to press on each and all people going by. You are looking on at quite complex issues and it's hard to know what to do beyond ring for help.

There was a chap on the junction of North Earl Street and O'Connell street a few months ago (no more than 27-28) who had pissed himself, was emaciated, and partially comotose. People filed past. It was terrible. But I was talking to another chap who was tapping for change and he had said someone tried to help him before and had got sliced across the stomach for their troubles.

Serious and significant problems right on our streets, what can the average Joe Soap do?

Get him a job on RTE




They might still have whatever scheme that skinny heroin addict* Tubridy got in on




*May not be an actual junkie

The thing to bear in mind is that, in the scenario you're describing, the state that person is in is (most likely) exactly what they were expecting/hoping to achieve. I've many friends in recovery from addiction to heroin and other drugs, and to be honest if they saw someone on the street in that kind of state, they'd often remark something along the lines of "That's good gear, wonder where he got it." I mean, they'd feel compassion and empathy too of course, but you don't smoke/inject heroin to get just a little bit high, or to take the edge off reality just a small bit ... you're hoping to get as stoned as possible, as cheaply as possible. From what you've described, the person achieved that.

I myself am also in recovery (alcohol was my drug of choice) and I do feel an urge to reach out to those on the streets who are still suffering from addiction; however I'm unlikely to engage with anyone who's obviously under the influence. I'd be far more likely to have a chat with someone out begging in the middle of the day if they're sober and somewhat clear-headed; at least then (if they've any interest in the resources available to them) they're more likely to retain whatever information I'm giving them.

Actually I'm often more likely to share some of my own story with them - I'm someone who's lost more than most through my addiction, but (through years of hard work and treatment) I've turned things around in my life. It can help people to hear that. And sometimes, the best way you can help someone is just to be that connection to the rest of the human race - to look at them and talk with them and interact with them on a normal, personal level. When you're on the streets and/or in addiction, you're often either ignored or abused, it's hard not to start viewing yourself as dirt, when that's the way almost everyone else is treating you.

So yeah, I've no problem going out of my way to help those in addiction, just not at the time when they're affected/under the influence - far more beneficial to try to reach out to them when they're sober.

Yes , through work I've dealt with quite a few addicts overdosing , just one died.

There's quite a difference between an addict who's stopped breathing and one who is potentially aggressive .

It's takes a moment to check someone's pulse, breathing and put them in a recovery position.

corner of hells wrote: »

...........

It's takes a moment to check someone's pulse, breathing and put them in a recovery position.

and another moment to catch hepatitis

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Nope. Wouldn't go near them. Seems a grand way to get set up to be sued for something. Never mind, the actual real possibility of physical danger should they decide it's a good opportunity to mug me.

Nope. The world has moved on and helping adult strangers in questionable circumstances is just too damn open to being abused (legally/financially/violently).

Wouldn't hesitate to find the Gardai to intercede though.

Sue you for what ?