Benefits to stop for addicts?

[Don Rogers Shop]

Always raises a decent debate on here so what do you think?

Drug addicts who refuse treatment could have their welfare benefits withdrawn, it was reported.
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

Good idea in my opinion but only if they are not just going to go into this without thinking it through.

[Crispy]

If they REFUSE help, why should the tax payers fund there habbits?

[jayohaitchenn]

Brilliant idea. And it'll save us money on state pensions when they stab up old people for their giro.

[BANGKOK RED]

If they refuse help then they don't have a leg to stand on.

[Don Rogers Shop]

I think the help needs to be looked at aswell though to be fair. It clearly isn't working for most at the moment.

[townforever]

My humble option is

There is no right or wrong answer to this, you cannot make a choice which effects 100,000's of people and have a positive effect on all of them.

This is were the "Tick box" management style falls flat on its face.  What might help kickstart 1 persons journey to recovery could push another over the edge.

When I was growing up didn't local councils and govenment have social workers / out reach centres to help people on their own road to recovery/journey through life, it seems to be a lot better option than letting some Managment Graduate decide poilcy on a situation he will never face/even have though about because of the silver spoon upbringing.

Lets not forget that some (albeit a small few) will not want to be helped.

[oxford_fan]

Exactly jay, witholding money from addicts (who spend it on highly addictive drugs) just means they will get it from somewhere else via mugging, robbery, prostitution, or burglary.

What about legalising drugs? Its been in the newspapers alot recently. It could help to deglamourise the whole thing, enable useage to be taxed and monitored, and minimise criminal involvement. It could also lead to a pretty messy society, though the argument at the moment is that drug laws have more or less no affect on drug use.

I'd just be concerned that the floating drug users, the ones in the middle, who have the occasional spliff / line / pill / suppository, could easily be drawn into significantly more regular use and worse.

Heroin should be legalised though, and its use and addiction treatment should be managed in the same place.

[chalkies_shorts]

Well buggery is legalised and positively encouraged in Scumland so why not legalise drugs. I'd rather stick a needle in my arm than have a dick or banana or both up my bum.
 

[Talk Talk]

Exactly jay, witholding money from addicts (who spend it on highly addictive drugs) just means they will get it from somewhere else via mugging, robbery, prostitution, or burglary.

What about legalising drugs? Its been in the newspapers alot recently. It could help to deglamourise the whole thing, enable useage to be taxed and monitored, and minimise criminal involvement. It could also lead to a pretty messy society, though the argument at the moment is that drug laws have more or less no affect on drug use.

I'd just be concerned that the floating drug users, the ones in the middle, who have the occasional spliff / line / pill / suppository, could easily be drawn into significantly more regular use and worse.

Heroin should be legalised though, and its use and addiction treatment should be managed in the same place.

Drug addiction was almost non-existant in the UK before drugs were criminalised (in the 1930's?). Make something illegal and the price rockets and it becomes very attractive to organised crime who will promote it hard. Look at Prohibition in the USA.

Drugs have been effectively decriminalised in Portugal and the addiction rates/problem have nosedived.

Do it Cameron - although he hasn't got the balls and the Daily Mail would go into melt down.

[Arriba]

heroin should be made free on the nhs for addicts.it wont end addictions, but will cut crime massively.
i knew people who have died from the stuff,and i know others who were addicts and beat it.

the whole benefits schemes across the board need shake ups.too many getting them who dont deserve it.

[donkey]

Do it Cameron - the Daily Mail would go into melt down.

That is reason enough for any policy.

[sonicyouth]

Drug addiction was almost non-existant in the UK before drugs were criminalised (in the 1930's?). Make something illegal and the price rockets and it becomes very attractive to organised crime who will promote it hard. Look at Prohibition in the USA.

Drugs have been effectively decriminalised in Portugal and the addiction rates/problem have nosedived.

Also see: Series 3 of HBO's The Wire for 'Hamsterdam'.

The system works as well now as it could under the current laws and regulation, if you remove the benefits then drug addicts will resort to crime. If you force addicts into a system whereby more money will be spent trying to help those who don't have any inclination to be helped, so will undoubtedly fail.

Legalise drugs and put the dealers out of business. They are the ones who fuel the whole system of addiction, crime and violence. Let addicts get drugs somewhere they can also be treated.

[nevillew]

But if drugs are legalised, those who fund their lifestyles through dealing at all levels aren't just going to disappear. I'm not sure they'd all give up crime.

[jayohaitchenn]

Exactly jay, witholding money from addicts (who spend it on highly addictive drugs) just means they will get it from somewhere else via mugging, robbery, prostitution, or burglary.

What about legalising drugs? Its been in the newspapers alot recently. It could help to deglamourise the whole thing, enable useage to be taxed and monitored, and minimise criminal involvement. It could also lead to a pretty messy society, though the argument at the moment is that drug laws have more or less no affect on drug use.

I'd just be concerned that the floating drug users, the ones in the middle, who have the occasional spliff / line / pill / suppository, could easily be drawn into significantly more regular use and worse.

Heroin should be legalised though, and its use and addiction treatment should be managed in the same place.

There's a massive discussion on that very subject on the BBC Have Your Say site. Looking at the results I'd say around 80% of people agree the current drugs policy has failed and we do need to look at decrimilising some or all drugs.

As a (sensible) drug user, I have to admit the taboo part of being naughty and taking drugs did appeal to me at 18 years old. If the stuff I'd wanted to try had been legal then it's no fun is it?

[BANGKOK RED]

But if drugs are legalised, those who fund their lifestyles through dealing at all levels aren't just going to disappear. I'm not sure they'd all give up crime.

Maybe.

But it's not much of an argument against taking the market away from the bad guys.