I have a friend who immigrated from Germany to Canada. He tells the story of his brother, who got into a heroin addiction at a young age. The German state threw a lot of resources at this fellow to get him. It took about 10 years to get him to a point where he could hold a job and pay his own rent--and stay off the drugs.

As I was listening to this story, my analytical nature was estimating the cost. Maybe $50,000 a year! Maybe $200,000. I don't know. But it was a lot of money.

But compare that cost to this fellow being engaged in petty crime to get his fix. Or the violence that often comes with this lifestyle. Or let's send him to jail, which is at least $100,000 a year.

It's a no brainer for which method we should choose.