Drug addiction will cause people to do truly unthinkable things. They get a wad of cash, the only thing they think about is drugs, and to hell with anything else. It's amazing how it re-prioritizes the structure of the brain.
As someone who has experienced it, it’s absolutely unreal just how thoroughly your priorities shift towards the substance. Everything revolves around it, nothing and no one else matters until that need is fulfilled.
I’m glad I’ve escaped that hellacious ride (for now)
Were the drug addicts the ones that were employed beforehand?
There are plenty of gainfully employed drug addicts. You may even know a few.