I'm so sorry that you have lost so many friends. Drug addiction, crime, weapons and death all do seem to go hand in hand. I have seen it first hand and never been able to quite understand that desperation that leads an addict to do what they do.

But I really must argue the point that life is precious. Every single one of those people who die through violence and crime are still somebody's son, daughter, brother, sister, husband, wife, Father or Mother. Their life has at some time had meaning to somebody.

Last year I attended the funeral of a 30 year old man who I had known since I was 8 years old. He died from a Heroine over dose, he had been an addict for over 15 years. In all the years I have been alive I have never been to a funeral that was so well attended. His family were devastated. This is the family that he had stolen from, the family that had spent years worrying themselves stupid about where he was and what he was doing. He hurt them over and over, but still he was their son, her brother, his cousin, my childhood playmate, my neighbour and despite it all, nobody abandoned him.

However I do agree that help is only sucessful for those who truly want it. There are those who despite everyone's best efforts are simply on a path to self destruction. Can it really be the case that such people do not at least have the human potential to make a change in their lives?