General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

A do-gooder and proud

I agree, Lisa - once someone is addicted to drugs, unless they want to kick their habit, and you're working with their willpower, then you're fighting a losing battle.

I should have put my argument in context - have decent rehabilitation, but also put great importance on ridding our streets of drugs so there's less chance of people becoming addicted in the first place.
Yes, Thiek C, I do think some drug addicts do have an 'excuse' for their plight -
Lock up the traffickers, drug dealers who prey on people- I know of a few in our area who openly deal drugs...

I agree, Broady, even if rehabilitation brings about positive outcomes and someone is 'clean' it is still the easiest route to lapse back to their old ways. Drugs are powerful and many people have little support and few opportunities to build a new productive life so they can leave their old ways firmly behind them.

Prisons are massively overcrowded and understaffed (my inlaw works in a Liverpool prison).
People accept many offenders are given a specified length of sentence to serve then are released back into society, their time served.
Yes, give inmates constructive tasks to fill their days, educate them if possible to increase their self-esteem - many are illiterate - totally eradicate drugs from prisons and prisoner hierarchies of power, have a safe environment for prisoners and staff.
Have basic living conditions, but fit for humans and not degrading - being able to go to the toilet with privacy (as I understand it this is not always possible in our overcrowded prisons).
Stop prisons being schools of crime.

Most inmates will be released back into society and if their time inside leads to:
further lowered self esteem,
reduced self-reliance,
heightened dependancy on society, etc
how can we expect ex-convicts to find a positive role in society?

Perhaps my specs are a bit rose-tinted .
I have always felt loved and supported, and I am well aware my very sheltered background makes me look for the best in everyone.

I am realistic and know there are 'bad' people - it is the way of the world - but sometimes they are the product of society. For example, many school leavers are illiterate - our education system (in addition to their families) has failed them - that is a crime in my eyes. Not that illiterate people are bad! I mean they have been failed and it's much more difficult for some to be fully included and lead valued lives in society.

There aren't many decent work opportunities nowadays - when my Dad left the local comp with few qualifications he had a choice of good apprenticeships and was able to work hard, as was the norm, so earning enough to buy a home and raise a family. How much harder is that to achieve for our school leavers?

I perceive many things going wrong through society - I should stop writing about them and try to do-some-good.