Rebecca Williams

Friday’s Inside Out on the BBC took a disturbing look at homelessness in London.

ThamesReach, a charity that help homeless and vulnerable people find homes and build a better life for themselves, gave simple advice: not to give money to homeless beggars on the street simply because it goes straight to the drug dealers.

According to a survey carried out by ThamesReach 80 per cent of homeless people are feeding a drug habit and their average life expectancy is 31 years of age.

ThamesReach provide a street rescue team whereby they provide night shelter and hostels for those living rough on the streets.

Drugs aren’t permitted in the hostels so homeless people have to substitute their addiction with methadone prescriptions and super strong lager.

I agree with the advice given by ThamesReach. When I was staying at the bed and breakfast, a huge majority of the other residents were druggies. They may not have been begging on the streets but I would see them rubbing their hands on the day they received their income support or had to sign on for benefits. I knew and they knew exactly what the money would be going towards- their next fix.

It’s a shame, really. Once you get hooked onto drugs it a downwards spiral from there. I would see perfectly healthy individuals get sucked into the world of drugs and end up helpless and ill. They’d be so addicted they would twitch and become almost schizophrenic when due for their next fix.

I mean, how are you honestly going to get a job or get out of your depressing situation if your state of mind is so clouded and docile? The answer is you’re not. They simply find themselves as slaves to drugs for the rest of their lives. Even if they do try to kick their drug habit, by that time the long-term mental damage has already been done.

I’ve never tried drugs in my life, so I have no idea how difficult it is to kick an addiction but I’ve seen what it’s done to people who have so much to offer the world. It’s all about will power and support. If you really know where you want to be in life you will strive hard for it.

Giving money to homeless beggars is in fact contributing to the harm that they cause themselves daily. Giving food or drink will prove to be a much more worthwhile donation to anyone who is homeless- much healthier consumption for their bodies than drugs and alcohol.