Absolutely. I am very fortunate to have very supportive parents, both financially and interpersonally, but they told me and my brother after school, in very clear terms, to learn a job that can pay the bills. For me, learning a trade, where you need to show up every morning, on-time, sober, wearing a clean t-shirt and smelling okay, probably saved me from becoming like your friends. Sadly, that ship has sailed for your friends. Now, pulling themselves out of their hole will be harder for them. I don't really have good advice.