The question at the heart of it is this in a nutshell. Is handing a lump sum of cash to somebody who is dealing with addictions a smart move? If you're dealing with active alcoholism, I know from first-hand experience that, depending on how you facilitate it, you can go through $60 to $100 a day easily. With pharmaceuticals and/or illicit drugs, you can double that. With gambling, the sky is the limit.
Many people with those addictions, especially the gambling addiction, are in search of a rush. They're trying to feel something. They spin down a rabbit hole trying to go... in ever-increasing sums, so the amounts can disappear in a heartbeat. I have first-hand knowledge of a veteran who sought me out in Halifax region. Because we have a casino, his lump sum lasted less than 30 days; it was gone. By his own admission, it was the casino.
Trust me, addiction is one of the known comorbidities to serious mental health issues. I can't implore the committee strongly enough: do not do that. It does not do anything for the veteran, it does nothing for the family, and it does nothing for our society.