Good points Sammy. Maybe I didn't think enough.
I suppose it is like cases of domestic violence - everyone says just leave him, but the wife can't - for some reason.
In Your friends case, i suppose without the propper support netwroks in place (which is a disgrace to this country) then you were in a catch 22 situation. My first incline would have been to have him locked up, but as you say she could have been even worse off.
What we need is harder punishments for the dealers - life and nothing less, and much more proactive policing. Addicts might even need more help then punishment - and with the state of drugs in UK prisons that is not the best place for them to get it.
Britian has a poor record on this subject, they should do more.