I'm often confused by discussions around poverty, addiction, and crime because they seem to focus heavily on society and not much on individual responsibility

[YourWaryPlumBalonz]

For context, I'm autistic, grew up in a low-income household, and my dad was largely absent and neglectful. He rarely showed up, wasn't particularly involved, and wasn't much of a support. Despite that, I never got involved in crime or drugs.
Instead, I used the support that was available. I got help from charities, received government support related to my disability and employment, and eventually found a professional job. It wasn't easy, but there were people and organisations willing to help.
So what I'm struggling to understand is this: if support exists, why are so many problems framed primarily as society's fault rather than the responsibility of the individual?
I'm not saying circumstances don't matter. Clearly they do. But there seem to be plenty of people who experience poverty, disability, family breakdown, neglect, bullying, etc., and don't end up addicted, committing crimes, or repeatedly making self-destructive choices.

Addiction and adult crime are a choice. But people have different life early life experiences.

Inner strength to overcome the past varies.

You can’t generalise, to be honest. 😉
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At some point you are your own independent adult with control over your actions. Everyone goes through shit in their lives. Everyone has struggles at some point you have to stop saying "boo boo poor me" and actively change your situation for the better. Even if you can't actively improve your situation you can at least control what you put into your body. If you currently can't afford the most healthiest food you can at least not ingest toxic and poisonous chemicals. Ideally don't start!

I would suggest appointments with someone else.

Quote " Even if you can't actively improve your situation you can at least control what you put into your body. If you currently can't afford the most healthiest food you can at least not ingest toxic and poisonous chemicals. Ideally don't start!"

Why ? What happens if someone puts all these "toxic and poisonous chemicals" into their body ?

Genuine question. Because it seems you are suggesting they might change someone's body and thought process etc ? And I assume you are talking about food here.

You clearly have no idea about addiction, how it starts and how it affects people.

No one chooses to be an addict. There are a lot of celebs who have come out about how they are now sober due to alcohol addiction.
No one has a beer and becomes an addict. It is creeping and it is insidious. A small glass of wine in the evening to relax... then 2 glasses, then 3. A bottle. A bottle and a half, 2 bottles.... it happens over time and it is so easy to not notice.
People think it is ok... I can just stop... except you can't.
You go from one small glass to relax when the kids are in bed, to hiding 3 empty bottles when the kids are in bed. No one choose that.

I knew someone that did the above. She died. Left her DH and kids behind. She did not choose that life. She was ashamed and hid it.. until she could not.

Even fast food has some nutritional value at least.

Cocaine, heroin, ketamine don't offer anything beneficial to your health. Best to stay clear.

Food addiction is really hard, because unlike booze and drugs, we need food to live. You can't just stop eating food.

But you were talking about food. I assumed from your post you were suggesting non healthy foods change something.

Anyway, do you think these mind-altering drugs you mention might alter the mind in some way ? You know, so that their behavior is different from that of a person that only eats pure fresh food with no added chemicals ?

You see where this is going of course. And you are rather digging a hole here. Because if these food, or chemicals, or substances are to be avoided, what happens if they are not avoided?

Take food for example. Quoting you here - "Even fast food has some nutritional value at least.". What happens to someone's thought process, in your opinion, if they do not get the proper nutrition?

And going on from that. What do you think a poor diet all through childhood might do to that child ? It's not as if a 6 year old can insist on steamed organic cabbage rather than budget range fish fingers and burgers.

Everyone has their own free will and the responsibility to make the best of the opportunities presented to them in terms of getting an education, obeying the law and working hard.

Is free will not dictated by external influences, as well as how the brain works ?

A PP above for example has been talking about nutrition. Surely if nutrition is important, as in good nutrition good, bad nutrition bad, then the bad nutrition has an effect of some sort ? Maybe it influences how the concept of free will works ?

Eat healthy then? Have a balanced diet? Don't stuff yourself on chips and fried food. Exercise.

It's very easy not to get addicted to drugs and alcohol.... Just don't take it. Like you can't get addicted to it, if you just don't take it. Just stay clear. Say "no thanks" and move on.

I think you are missing my point here. You say, quote "Eat healthy then? Have a balanced diet? Don't stuff yourself on chips and fried food. Exercise.".

What happens to someone who does not do this ? A young adult who has never been fed healthy food for example, and has only ever been fed chips and fried food. Is their thought process different, from yours for example ?

Does diet play a part in addiction ?

They can make a start at a least. Everyone starts from somewhere.

And what happens ? If someone eats steamed organic cabbage instead of burger and chips ?

Will I, for example, instantly lose my addiction?

OP, you sound like a person who is not only autistic but also has Asperger's. Your lack of empathy for anyone who, in your words "fails" is shameful.

People are wired differently, some, like yourself, thrive when given help because you had home support from parents who believed in education. Despite your saying that your father was largely absent and not involved, I think that could be said for an awful lot of fathers who are working and studying, you do not have the monopoly on that but your father was there wasn't he? He didn't do a bunk.

So, coming from a home where you have two parents and access to education you feel you have the right to sit in judgement on people from drug riddled slums with an unemployed druggy mum and an absent or abusive dad, food money being spent in the pub or with a pusher, going to school hungry, bullied by other kids because kids are unkind and say "why did they turn to drugs and crime?"

You really are unpleasant and your attitude is sickening. Learn some humility and compassion.

They can't just eat cabbage. They need some protein and carbs as well.

Ok.

So will a diet change me to remove the addiction I have ?

Is that the magic cure to all is it ?

People can make choices to eat more healthy if they want to. It's really not that hard at all.

Everyone has control of what they put into their own body

Every comment you make is just proving how little you understand addiction.

Again. You don't get addicted to something if you have good habits in the first place. Perhaps people should take care with what they do with their body?

You need food to survive i understand. Even if it is unhealthy. There's calories there for energy. There's some nutrients you need. But there's no need to take drugs and alcohol. Very easy to avoid not taking in the first place.

So a child whos fed unhealthy food for years, and then is addicted to the salt/sugar and so on had the control over that did they? A lot of habits are laid down in childhood. Children live what they know.

My son has friends who smoke weed with their parents. The parents have always smoked around the kids. The now 20 year olds are addicted. They could "choose" to stop. But it's not easy. Because they are ADDICTED.

You seem to be stepping back a bit from your fresh good food is the cure for all.

So you can't explain the science behind your theory then ?

Once they reach adulthood they can make better informed health decisions for themselves.

That is shockingly bad parenting. I thought weed was something many MNers did anyway. No one forced the kids to take the weed though did they? Even so in adulthood.... Just don't take it? I have absolutely no idea how to go about finding illegal substances anyway.

I suppose this thread shows how stupid even some educated and successful people are.