It means your cells contain DNA that can reproduce. Things that are not alive do not reproduce.

No, because they’re not alive. It’s no different from asking if a rock can grow a tail. Consciousness is a function of living brains. It helps living things avoid threats and react to unfavorable conditions.

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.