If you have a job and hobbies, you’re not a loser. You’re an average person. The nature of a pyramid shaped economy requires a lot more people at the bottom than the top. You’re literally doing what you’re supposed to do.

It’s both, but you can’t address the mental health and economic circumstances until the person gets clean. They’re not mentally able while they’re on drugs.

The drugs mess up your brain chemistry. Yes, they were in a bad place and did drugs. Being in a bad place didn’t make them engage in prostitution, break into cars, share needles, sleep outside, not brushing their teeth, not shower, etc. The drugs did that, and the drugs will keep them in that state until they hit rock bottom or die. You are correct that economic blight causes drug addiction, but drug addiction causes peoples’ lives to get so much worse.

Sounds like what you’re interested in is a social skills class for autism. I’ve heard of them in theory but have never seen any actually available to adults. My therapist suggested I try to find an autism specialist, but like, do those even exist??

As for your social interests, you’ll just have to go to public hobby groups and figure it out. The NTs also didn’t have a handbook. You’re interested in dance classes? Your local community center probably has some. It’s ok to make mistakes, correct, and do better next time. Find ways to connect with people. Life is not going to be like “Oh I learned and am normal now” for us. We just get better at it than before. Also, women are just people. You’ll get more comfortable around an individual the more time you spend with them.