Rewarding Addicts?

Almost everyone my age seems to have a sweet little old lady that they feel obligated to check up on periodically.

I have one.  Her and my mother were close friends up until my mother's passing.  I don't feel obligated to check up on her, I do it with gratitude because she did so much for my mom.  She doesn't have much of a support network so I call her atleast once a week.  She declines any offer of assistance so I sometimes show up with a meal to share with her.  I wish I could do more for her and it is difficult watching her slow but steady decline.

I also have another little old lady that I feel obligated to check on periodically.  This one isn't so sweet.  This one is not satisfied with a phone call, she wants a meal out.  So, once a month, I take her to McDonald's.  She complains every minute about how cheap I am.  I indicate that she is welcome to pay.  Of course, she won't pay because she wouldn't buy anything at a fast food establishment, it would be beneath her.  Like I said, this is a monthly obligation so I want to get in and out fast so coffee at McDs it is.  (She wouldn't pay anyway regardless of the venue.)  She is so miserable and has no filter so I don't even bother keeping my thoughts to myself.  I say them out loud, not that she cares about my thoughts.  Our last conversation went something like this:

I forgot to ask for my cream and sugar on the side.  I keep forgetting that in cheap restaurants they add it automatically.
Well, you seem to be having no trouble devouring your Angus Burger.
It is horrid.   Instead of tasting it, I am daydreaming.
Silence.
In case you were wondering, I was daydreaming about winning the lottery.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
I would set up a charitable foundation.
To do what?
Well, to help, of course.
What cause?
All causes, of course, but I would have some conditions like I would never give one person more than $1000.
So, in other words, you would enjoy people coming to beg to you so that you would have more things to gossip about and you would give them token help.
It wouldn't be gossip fodder, I would be helping people.
Would you be donating larging amounts of money to foundations for example.
Yes, hospital foundations.
What about people living with addiction?
Never. I would never give a penny to someone with an addiction.
This should be good.  Why not?
Because I would never want to reward people with addictions.
You think treatment would be a reward?
Yes, those people are already making it impossible to get into the hospital because they are taking all the beds and they contribute nothing to society through taxes because none of them work.  Why would I want to reward them by putting them in a nice place.
Well, first of all, you are ridiculous.  Secondly, you realize that addiction is a disease and not a choice and if you treat people, it is better for everyone in society.  You also realize the addicted person is not the only person suffering and there also good be children involved.  Treatment could help end the generational cycle. 
You are the one who is ridiculous.  Addicts are just poor people who want attention.
Here is $20.00.  I will call a taxi to take you home. 

I walked away muttering to myself  I always walk away muttering to myself when I am with this woman.  She is just nasty. 

Then, I had a horrible thought.  What if other people had the same attitude towards addiction?  No, no one else would be this ignorant.  Or could they? 

I needed to go to my new calm place to think this over.  I spent some time in the Pop Up Winnipeg Space at Portage and Hargrave.  Then, I took a walk.  I found three empty bottles of alcohol within one block.  All the same bottle of whiskey, coincidentally enough.  Now, I started to daydream about winning the lottery.  I would try to help addicts.  There appears to be a need.