Drug addicts who refuse treatment face losing benefits

[Francesca9]

Source: Telegraph (UK)

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.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7955452/Drug-addicts-who-refuse-treatment-face-losing-benefits.html

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Money is tight in the UK, so someone has to suffer.

[Tx4obama]

1. One of the republicans here in the USA said not too long ago that...

he wanted everyone to be drug tested before receiving food stamps or/and state aid (housing).
And if they didn't pass the test then NO money for them.
Sounds like about the same thing ;(

[Honeycombe8]

7. That sounds very different to me.

First, the food stamp beneficiaries COULD be in a treatment program and struggling with their addiction, but can't pass a drug test yet.

Second, a drug abuser could pass a test, if they knew when it was coming up.

Third, they would be testing food stamp recipients, regardless of whether there is any indication that they have a drug or alcohol dependency problem.

Sounds very different to me.

The UK program...you'd still receive assistance if you showed you were attending a rehab program and whatnot...even if you weren't successful with it yet.

[raccoon]

16. I think all politicians should be drug tested. Randomly. nt

[No Elephants]

17. NO. Saying all poor people should be drug tested is bigotry against

poor people. Saying known drug addicts have to address their problem if they want to continue living off the public is only fair to taxpayers, not to mention possibly helpful to the drug addicts in question.

[disidoro01]

2. I'm torn on this.

While this seems discriminatory or simply unfair, in this country many jobs now require drug testing. At the very least, in most jobs you have to sign a waiver consenting to the employers right to drug test. My question is why an employed person who pays into programs via taxes be held to a stricter standard?
If you fail a drug test, you face losing your job.
I'm not for a one strike and you are out policy but a commonsense approach that treats all people fairly.

[dotymed]

10. But, let's do that to everyone.

If one group of citizens; the poor or the working class has to drug test, then let's make everyone do it. Lawyers, judges, politicians, doctors...
In America, if you have money, then you don't have to obey the same rules/laws that the underclass does. Bullshit.

[Lightning Count]

14. Let's have Single Payer with annual drug testing.

That is something I can accept.

[No Elephants]

19. the OP article is not about mass drug testing.

[Downwinder]

3. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

How many people are effected by a politician voting on an issue? Why shouldn't they be tested before they vote? Including alcohol.

[disidoro01]

4. People

are not forced to vote, they can chose not to. Voting is strictly voluntary but sure, piss test at the poll. I'd have no problem with that because I could make the choice to test and vote or to walk away.

[Downwinder]

5. I meant to be speaking of elected officials.

[disidoro01]

6. 100%

I am absolutely with you.

[Honeycombe8]

8. When you ask other people to pay your way, you invite THEIR rules and questions.

That's just the way it is. If someone doesn't want to answer questions or abide by someone else's rules, then don't ask them to pay your way. If your business is your business, and it's no one else's business, then don't ask them to pay for it.

When someone gives you money for your subsistence, it gives them a right to dictate certain conditions for the giving of their money.

This possible new rule sounds reasonable to me. You don't have to have the problem licked. You just have to show you're working on it.

[MikeW]

9. +10 - sound reply

[dotymed]

11. Really?

For people who have paid taxes for decades, including unemployment and social security....when they lose their job, then the money they have paid in for all of that time doesn't count. It then becomes "them paying your way?"
Amazing reasoning, especially when "they" have probably paid these taxes way less than "we" have...

[V_Byl]

12. Paying taxes...

is just part of being a member of society. You receive services, benefits, and (at least the perception of) security.

This looks to be about welfare recipients who are on drugs, and helping them kick their habit. It's in the UK so I'm not 100% sure, but they aren't talking about cutting your social security or something. Drug abuse is not a situation the rest of society should be enabling - you'll have a hard time convincing me otherwise. Having a known drug user go to rehab to receive benefits is a good thing, especially when the goal is to help them get off drugs and ultimately get a job.

[Lightning Count]

13. Similar rules will probably be enacted in regards to obesity.

Given the drain on public health resources. It probably wouldn't be a requirement that people became thin. Just that they are working on treatment/diet.

[cstanleytech]

15. Actually if the government is willing to provide assistance

such as dietitians, physical therapy and or psychiatric treatment for those who are grossly obese that might not be a bad thing if it can be used to improve their lifestyle.

[Honeycombe8]

20. True. That would be great. But as far as I know, only bariatric surgery is shown

to be effective in dealing with morbid obesity. It's a complicated issue. It seems to be a combination of personality disorder, genetics, total lifestyle, eating too much, eating the wrong things, compulsion. It's not as easy a problem to fix as a drug addiction...not that drug addiction is easy. You give up drugs. You don't ever give up food. And food is pushed, generally, in our society, and considered a good thing. It's complicated.

[No Elephants]

18. Someone has tlo suffer? Helping addicts kick is cruel?

Forcing taxpayers to support forever someone who refuses to enter a free rehab program and probably steals bc the dole is insufficient to support a habit is somehow fair?

Wow.