Letter: Some will never be normal again

Published 1:30 am Friday, April 24, 2026

“Compassion without accountability is not compassion”, was a well written article by Todd Welch. One issue he failed to address was that of brain damage from continued alcohol or drug abuse. Brain damage, at some point, is permanent, not reversible and basically untreatable. Those people are unlikely to change their lives regardless of accountability or compassion; they are way beyond realizing they have a problem. Some types of mental illness are also extremely difficult (and probably costly) to treat. Another problem is that people have the legal right to refuse treatment; this doesn’t serve them or society in any positive way.

My personal experiences with family members and a close friend long addicted to drugs and alcohol is that I finally realized they would simply never be normal again. This was confirmed by their medical doctors; not something that I assumed on my own. Most have died under very sad circumstances. One is missing, in a wheelchair, and calls once or twice a year to say ‘Hi, I’m still alive’.

While accountability and compassion are necessary to help those who are willing and able to change their lives, society has to realize that too many are brain damaged beyond repair. Unless they can be put into some sort of legally restrictive housing, they will continue to live and die on our city streets. It’s that simple.

Michele Heiderer

Arlington