Religious belief is a drug too, and like a drug, it can only be stopped with a strong emotional trigger.

I don't believe it can only be stopped emotionally. I think it is possible (but difficult) to use reason to overcome faith and religious beliefs. In fact, I would argue that those who overcome faith due to only emotion (e.g. senseless tragedy example you gave) are more likely to relapse into religion because they don't have the strong foundation of reason supporting their new beliefs (or lack thereof).

However, I think it is pretty much impossible to get a theist to change their mind if you are ridiculing their beliefs (which we seem to agree on). If someone is making fun of your core beliefs or self-identity, you will immediately be put on the defensive and simply refuse to listen to any rational arguments. It might feel good to some atheists to make fun of religious beliefs and those who hold them (possibly as a mechanism to defend their own self-esteem by thinking their lack of religious beliefs makes them superior, or maybe just because they think it makes good comedy), but it is very likely counterproductive if their goal is to actually try to convince theists to give up faith.

And I also agree with you that it is like a drug in the sense that is a hard habit to break. I don't think anyone is going to be able to convince a theist who hasn't actually seriously considered atheism before to give up faith after a short rational conversation. However, that conversation can sow seeds of doubt that later germinate into the individual fully questioning religion and god as they further have similar conversations or just experience life events that really make them question what they were taught.

Finally, as you mentioned, it is really important to have secular alternatives to the community aspects of a religion. I bet there are many people who don't actually believe in God but go to church every Sunday anyway because they are so used to the positive social aspects of having such a community and they can't find an alternative to avoid loneliness. I don't think there is a need for an "Atheist Church" though. People could just join clubs and social groups that pertain to their interests, whatever that may be, and get all the positive social aspects they are used to from a religion.