You don't want people to kick the shit out of you which you've made clear repeatedly, like you have fear of someone doing it to you. What if I told you that I'd beat you within an inch of your life the next time you picked up that needle? It's going to hurt, bones broken, nothing you can do to stop it. You agree with me that this would hurt less than coming down, again. We both agree. Mutually. Maybe you infer that I'm some sort of alpha, vengeful monster. That's not the case. We already tried everything else. 20+ years of this shit.

I disagree with his fatalist perspective that addicts are doomed

Spoiler alert. My addict OD and died. Alone in the back of a van. Pardon my doom+gloom, no hope experience and expectation.

that their failure is a moral one and I also don't think you can take an addict and change is life by beating him up.

You're right. As proven by my previous statement.

However, if you show them unconditional support and care when they're at the height of their addiction, don't be surprised if they drain you in every way possible - emotionally, financially, mentally - and just chew you up and spit you out when you are no longer valuable to them.

I never went to the "dens" they go to and kidnap anyone. This isn't some John Wick/Taken movie scene. I got knocks on the door @ 2am or found them sleeping on the back patio. It was always "I want help. Help me." and some random period of time later, they ended up puking up dinner and bleeding all over the bathroom in a stupor and laughing as you drag them outside.