Should benefits be taken away from drug addicts?

[glitzyglamgirl]

They are now talking about taking benefits away from long-term addicts who fail to stick to recovery programmes.

Whats your views on this?

I personally think that its another case of treating the symptoms not the cause, and drug addicts need to be treated as people with an illness, that the help and support available needs to improve. Taking away an addicts benefits can only lead them to commit more crime to feed their habit IMO, perhaps forcing more people into prostitution, dealing etc etc.

 

[jenna]

I think if theyve been put ona programme then yes, and if they commit crimes after theyve been given the oppertunity to sort themselves out then they should be punished accordingly. Fair enough they needed the money but dont we all?

 

[Krystal]

I think it should be 3 strikes and your out type of thing. I think the support to help them should be improed yes but ultimately if they fail to help themselves then why should we fund the habit.

Its hard though but I think we have to get tough on people

 

[SarahH]

Yes and no.

I think the money should be taken away from them so they can't afford to buy the drugs..... but then at the same time, the crime will probably go up to fund their habits...

We defo need to get tougher on them tho IMO

 

[glitzyglamgirl]

Oh I totally agree we need to get tougher....I dont pay my tax so people can get high and do nothing to earn that right themselves!

I just think taking benefits away is a knee jerk reaction and will cause more harm than good....it will cost the taxpayer more in the long run for each addict that ends up in jail because they have had to steal or deal etc to feed the habit.

It also doesnt help that its often easier to get hold of drugs inside than it is out.

I'm not sure what the solution would be, other than tougher crack downs and penalties for the dealers, better education on the effects of drugs starting earlier in schools, and better customs to stop the stuff coming in to start with!

 

[jenna]

The only way to sort it out and many other crimes is to start getting tough on people. Its way past a joke now.

Like not fineing some one whos been claiming benefits illegally because taking them to court will cost more than the fine. Where the deterant?

Its like theres no punishment anymore for anything. No jail because there full... no fine because its too expencive to take to court... No wonder police dont do there job half the time, id hate chasing some one for hours for them to walk stright out the door 10minutes after arresting them.

If we were tougher on crimes then it would be harder for them to get drugs and put them off turning to crime as a way of getting money. Theres plenty of oppertunity for everyone these days to get a job/education.

 

[zebrastripes]

They are now talking about taking benefits away from long-term addicts who fail to stick to recovery programmes.

Whats your views on this?

I personally think that its another case of treating the symptoms not the cause, and drug addicts need to be treated as people with an illness, that the help and support available needs to improve. Taking away an addicts benefits can only lead them to commit more crime to feed their habit IMO, perhaps forcing more people into prostitution, dealing etc etc.

i agree. maybe they could change it so that the benefits are given out in the form of food & rent vouchers or something? That way they can't fund their addiction,but don't loose out on benefits

 

[trixipaws]

They are now talking about taking benefits away from long-term addicts who fail to stick to recovery programmes.

Whats your views on this?

I personally think that its another case of treating the symptoms not the cause, and drug addicts need to be treated as people with an illness, that the help and support available needs to improve. Taking away an addicts benefits can only lead them to commit more crime to feed their habit IMO, perhaps forcing more people into prostitution, dealing etc etc.

i agree. maybe they could change it so that the benefits are given out in the form of food & rent vouchers or something? That way they can't fund their addiction,but don't loose out on benefits

i think they do something like that in manchester, there are boxes fixed to walls that u can drop ur change into- they say "dinner or drugs" on them and i think it means u kno ur money will go on food!

i agree GGG if their benefits are stopped they will turn to crime- after all theyre addicts, they'd do anything to score wouldnt they if they get no money what else can they do

 

[Red_Fairy]

They are now talking about taking benefits away

I personally think that its another case of treating the symptoms not the cause, and drug addicts need to be treated as people with an illness, that the help and support available needs to improve. Taking away an addicts benefits can only lead them to commit more crime to feed their habit IMO, perhaps forcing more people into prostitution, dealing etc etc.

Completly agree with you.

I think itds a terrible idea. What next?, start picking on people with mental health problems? etcetc.

 

[Minime]

My mum has worked for the community drugs team for 20 years and there are some users who literally take the piss. My mum is diabetic, she is in kidney failure, has recently had to have both eyes lasered because of diabetes, she cannot drive in the dark, she can barely walk some days but she gets her backside into work. Neither does she have any heating in her house since it broke over a year ago (my dad is getting round to fixing it, yer right!)
She is not entitled to any benefits despite her health problems and my dad being out of work.

Some users my mum works with bound in with their kids dressed head to foot in designer clothes and they are getting DLA. They can walk, they can care for themselves, they know the system inside out & by god do they play it. There are MANY users like this.

On the other hand there are other users are desperate to give up drugs, some may have started because of extremely sad reasons and are genuinely wanting to be free of their demons.

Taking benefits off the piss takers is one thing but for others no. In the area my mum works in there were 2 places at one time for residential drug rehab (I used to assess candidates when vacancies came up) There are huge waiting lists for community drug teams and even worse for alcohol misuse teams. They are extremely underfunded and overworked so until the government addresses that issue first then its all well and fine saying we'll take benefits off people but if there is no services for them anyway then what is the point?

When someone has that drive to give up drugs they're fired up, they go to their GP and finally admit to having a problem and need help there and then. Leave them hanging on 6 months because of waiting lists and lack of services then they've lost motivation

I think the government are trying to appeal to the masses by seemingly targetting those "leeching" from society when in fact many of these people want nothing more than to be free of drug addiction but the services and support just isnt there.

Rachel they are already on about that, they've been banging on about people on Incapacity benefit and those claiming because of mental illness. Thing is for most people to claim incapacity benefit then you have to have worked and paid enough NI to be eligible for it anyway!