Attempting harm reduction for a crack addict

[CrackIsGod]

So I got this homeless crack addict that helped me a month ago even after I told him I didn't have any money, and he still did. So I took him to Five Guys and gave him $200. From the time we spent together, I can tell he's at the very least motivated, and reasonably intelligent. He seemed to be loyal and genuine too, but he's a stranger and an addict that I don't know you could say. I'm going to employ him very soon(if that doesn't make sense, it's not charity, I need intelligent and hardworking "skreet" people for questionable yet highly planned out and low risk work, very fair pay) and we're both going to be making a lot of money together. However he's just gonna blow it all on crack and end up going nowhere regardless of how much I end up giving him. I was wondering if having him switch to meth would be any sort of improvement to his life and reduce the harm he's doing, I'm thinking economically here. I have a close friend who's a meth addict, and it's a $90 or so expense every 2-3 weeks.

As it stands, he'll smoke literally every last penny every day on crack. At least with meth it would seem to be he'd have a chance of getting off the street and putting some money into housing. I don't actually need him to be in sobriety or not be homeless to work with him, and have him make me money. But having your whole life be crack and a sidewalk doesn't sound very nice. I'm aware that teaming up with addicted stranger is potentially dangerous. At the very worst case he runs off on me, and I lose out on potential profit, but less than $20 spent in reality at most. Unlikely though, aside from the fact that he'd be left 20 miles away from an area he's familiar with on the street, and no future work to be had.

I realize there are highly experienced and well educated former/current addicts or just drug scholars here, I wanted to see if there were any pitfalls or if this would be making it worse. From very limited base of knowledge, I'm not aware how meth would be particularly more harmful health and neurotoxicity wise, if that even is the case. But it would let him end the day with money he didn't spend. At the very least showing him how to buy drugs online would reduce his economic burden. I am aware not all addicts can be helped, if he doesn't want it or is unreceptive we just continue to work and move past it. After that try to see if housing can work, and maybe community provided mental health/addiction programs.

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

So I got this homeless crack addict that helped me a month ago even after I told him I didn't have any money, and he still did. So I took him to Five Guys and gave him $200. From the time we spent together, I can tell he's at the very least motivated, and reasonably intelligent. He seemed to be loyal and genuine too, but he's a stranger and an addict that I don't know you could say. I'm going to employ him very soon(if that doesn't make sense, it's not charity, I need intelligent and hardworking "skreet" people for questionable yet highly planned out and low risk work, very fair pay) and we're both going to be making a lot of money together. However he's just gonna blow it all on crack and end up going nowhere regardless of how much I end up giving him. I was wondering if having him switch to meth would be any sort of improvement to his life and reduce the harm he's doing, I'm thinking economically here. I have a close friend who's a meth addict, and it's a $90 or so expense every 2-3 weeks.

As it stands, he'll smoke literally every last penny every day on crack. At least with meth it would seem to be he'd have a chance of getting off the street and putting some money into housing. I don't actually need him to be in sobriety or not be homeless to work with him, and have him make me money. But having your whole life be crack and a sidewalk doesn't sound very nice. I'm aware that teaming up with addicted stranger is potentially dangerous. At the very worst case he runs off on me, and I lose out on potential profit, but less than $20 spent in reality at most. Unlikely though, aside from the fact that he'd be left 20 miles away from an area he's familiar with on the street, and no future work to be had.

I realize there are highly experienced and well educated former/current addicts or just drug scholars here, I wanted to see if there were any pitfalls or if this would be making it worse. From very limited base of knowledge, I'm not aware how meth would be particularly more harmful health and neurotoxicity wise, if that even is the case. But it would let him end the day with money he didn't spend. At the very least showing him how to buy drugs online would reduce his economic burden. I am aware not all addicts can be helped, if he doesn't want it or is unreceptive we just continue to work and move past it. After that try to see if housing can work, and maybe community provided mental health/addiction programs.

Do these people actually want to get sober? A person has to have a desire to get sober, and eventually stop using all drugs including alcohol and cannabis, and totally change their life and cut all ties with dealers, people they used drugs with, etc. in order for recovery/sobriety to work. Sometimes in-patient rehab is necessary, since it will separate them from the drugs, and they can learn how to live a sober and fulfilling life without drugs.

This also needs to be said but DO NOT give these people any money, as they are just going to use it to buy meth or crack.

What do you mean by "have him make you make money?" Can you have him get a motel or hotel room so at least he will get off the streets and no longer be homeless? Does he have a checking or savings account he can put money into so he does not have easy access to it?

 

[CrackIsGod]

No, I think you are misunderstanding the situation. This is not me seeking out a person in need out of just charity. I'm going to have him as my employee/partner working directly next to me, he's the right fit and his crack addiction or homelessness have no bearing on the work. I am not giving him worthless tasks for the sake of giving him money, not sending him out to steal copper wiring for me, and this is not a case of me giving away money and enabling a random addict. If he works with me he is going to get paid regardless, and in his present condition that money will go to drugs no matter what. I want to know if helping him switch to meth would do more harm than good. My view is for right now he's going to be addicted to an addictive stimulant either way, but meth at least has far less of a financial impact and would allow him to have money left at the end of the day at least.

That is a good point about having to want to be sober, having him do treatment is just a pipe dream right now. If he literally denies any attempts for help I give him, the work will still go on. I don't need him in sobriety to do the job nor do I need him off the street, I don't gain anything personally, but it's worth at least brainstorming and looking for possibly helpful ideas IMO.

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

No, I think you are misunderstanding the situation. This is not me seeking out a person in need out of just charity. I'm going to have him as my employee/partner working directly next to me, he's the right fit and his crack addiction or homelessness have no bearing on the work. I am not giving him worthless tasks for the sake of giving him money, not sending him out to steal copper wiring for me, and this is not a case of me giving away money and enabling a random addict. If he works with me he is going to get paid regardless, and in his present condition that money will go to drugs no matter what. I want to know if helping him switch to meth would do more harm than good. My view is for right now he's going to be addicted to an addictive stimulant either way, but meth at least has far less of a financial impact and would allow him to have money left at the end of the day at least.

That is a good point about having to want to be sober, having him do treatment is just a pipe dream right now. If he literally denies any attempts for help I give him, the work will still go on. I don't need him in sobriety to do the job nor do I need him off the street, I don't gain anything personally, but it's worth at least brainstorming and looking for possibly helpful ideas IMO.

Thanks for clarifying, no I don't think that getting him addicted to meth will help things. It will make things worse and he would then have an addiction to the cocaine/crack, as well as the meth.