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   Drug addicts who refuse treatment 'could have benefits withdrawn'
Drug addicts who refuse treatment could have their welfare benefits withdrawn, it was reported today. The Home Office is considering some form of "financial benefit sanction" for claimants who fail to address their drug or alcohol dependency, the BBC said. It would mark the revival of a scheme planned by the previous Labour government aimed at helping get drug users back into work. Social security advisors have warned such a move could drive addicts back into a life of crime. The idea is said to be in a consultation paper on the Government's drug strategy for England, Wales and Scotland. A spokesman for the Home Office was unable to comment on the proposal. It comes amid government plans for wider shake-up of the welfare system to help save billions of pounds. The Labour government planned a series of pilot schemes this year to help drug users kick their habits and return to work. They included applying sanctions to addicts who failed to attend treatment awareness programmes, and increased powers for the criminal justice system to help identify problem drug users not in treatment. But the Social Security Advisory Committee - a statutory body - warned the pilot could cause "significant harm" including the "disengagement of problem drug users from the welfare to work system with...negative economic and social impacts". This is the latest area of drug policy to come under the microscope this week. A leading doctor said the Government should consider decriminalising drugs because the blanket ban has failed to cut crime or improve health. Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, former president of the Royal College of Physicians, said he agreed that drug laws should be "reconsidered with a view to decriminalising illicit drugs use". He called for the UK to take a fresh look at its laws and added there was a strong case for putting a regulatory framework around illicit drugs, rather than the current blanket ban. Martin Barnes, chief executive of charity DrugScope, said there is no evidence to suggest the idea would work as he raised concerns it could breach medical principles. "The benefit system can and indeed does have a very important role in terms of advice and support to encourage people both to access treatment and employment," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "But we seriously question both the fairness and the effectiveness of actually using the stick of compulsion - benefit sanctions - to link a requirement to undergo medical treatment with a condition of receipt of benefit." Mr Barnes said there is "absolutely no evidence" that would work for a "vulnerable and often marginalised group". He added: "Also, we have to bear in mind that under the principles that are enshrined in the NHS Constitution, medical intervention should be therapeutic, consensual, confidential - and I just don't see that's compatible with using the benefits system to require people to undergo a complex form of drug treatment intervention." Simon Antrobus, chief executive of drug treatment charity Addaction, said: "Getting more people into drug treatment is always a good thing, but attempting to force them into that process by taking away their benefits would be a mistake. "The people Addaction help will tell you how coming off drugs is extremely difficult, and how deciding to access treatment took them a very long time. "Remove financial stability during that time, and you can severely damage someone's chances of beating an addiction. More likely, you could increase their chances of turning to crime to find an alternative income." A Home Office spokesman said: "The Government is determined to prevent drug use and strengthen enforcement against supply. "That's why we are asking experts for their views on a range of issues including whether we should strengthen the link between benefits, and drug and alcohol use, so that users are strongly encouraged to address their dependency. "We will carefully consider responses before launching the Government's new drug strategy later this year." Source: 24dash.com Due to problems with spam only SalfordOnline members can now leave comments. Becoming a member of SalfordOnline only takes a minute, just hit the red Join Us button at the top right hand side of the page to create your Personal account. Got a news story? Need help with publicity for an event in Salford? Send it to newsdesk@salfordonline.com or call the SalfordOnline newsdesk on 0161 789 5377. |
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