Drug use and the Welfare Reform Bill

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Drug use and the Welfare Reform Bill

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February 19, 2009 at 12:00 pm

#676819
1

globalloon

@globalloon

Member
I just received this email from Drugscope about the Welfare Reform Bill and the proposed new powers for anyone who claims benefits

Definitely worth knowing about…

Welfare Reform Bill update

I am writing to update you on progress on the Welfare Reform Bill and specifically the proposals in the Bill that relate to problem drug users. We consulted extensively on the initial proposals set out in the Welfare Reform Green Paper and produced a briefing for MPs on the Bill for the Seconding Reading debate.

The Welfare Reform Bill includes:

i) powers to require benefit claimants to answer questions about drug use and whether they are in drug treatment;
ii) a power to require a claimant to attend an assessment for substance misuse;
iii) a power to require someone to undergo a drug test;
iv) powers to share information (to and from the Department for Work and Pensions) with the police, probation services and others;
iv) powers to require someone to undergo drug treatment.

A failure to comply with the new requirements could result in a benefit sanction lasting between one and 26 weeks. The Bill is currently being considered by MPs in the Welfare Reform Bill Scrutiny Committee.

Dr Marcus Roberts, DrugScope’s Director of Policy, and Martin Barnes our Chief Executive gave evidence before the Committee on 10th February. A (Hansard) transcript of the evidence session is available on the parliament.uk website – the session on measures for problem drug users begins at Q.24 (scroll about a third of the way down the page):

House of Commons General Committee

A video recording of the session is available on the parliamentlive.tv website – the session starts at about 1 hour and 25 minutes in:

Video Player

You can keep up to date on progress on the Bill and access DrugScope’s briefings and submissions by visiting the DrugScope website at:

DrugScope | Key topics | Welfare Reform Bill

If you have any comments on the Bill or would like to know more please do get in contact with us.

Best regards,

xxxxxxxx

DrugScope | Welcome To Drugscope
February 19, 2009 at 12:10 pm

#745062
1

Clusterfrog

@clusterfrog

Member
Deary me.. it’s enough to put you off being unemployed!
February 19, 2009 at 12:34 pm

#745060
1

process

@process

Member
bit fucked up that isnt it? what will they class as problem drug users? Also what right do they have to ask what drugs you do in your own spare time so long as you are still activly looking for work and turning up to appointments. Also not sure of why they should share the information with the police. I can sort of see where they are coming from as they want less people on the sick/off work and obviously if your on smack or crack all day then your not gonna be doing that good a job if you get one, but cant see how withholding someones benefits because they tested postive for drugs is gonna be a good thing. IMO
February 19, 2009 at 12:37 pm

#745061
1

p0ly

@p0ly

Participant
djprocess;308845 wrote:

bit fucked up that isnt it? what will they class as problem drug users? Also what right do they have to ask what drugs you do in your own spare time so long as you are still activly looking for work and turning up to appointments. Also not sure of why they should share the information with the police. I can sort of see where they are coming from as they want less people on the sick/off work and obviously if your on smack or crack all day then your not gonna be doing that good a job if you get one, but cant see how withholding someones benefits because they tested postive for drugs is gonna be a good thing. IMO

probaly more people will resort to crime
February 19, 2009 at 12:40 pm

#745058
1

globalloon

@globalloon

Member
@Iacchus 308838 wrote:

Deary me.. it’s enough to put you off being unemployed!

according to the office of national statistics there were 420 vacant jobs in January, compared to 2,000,000 unemployed people

granted the 420 seems like an underestimate but it’s still far short of how many people are out of work
February 20, 2009 at 11:55 am

#745059
1

e_babes

@e_babes

Participant
Ok, I am GOBSMACKED!!.

Well, if this happens then people either have to undergo treatment OR not go on the dole at all and commit crime to fund their habits. I hope its the first one.

I think in the eyes of “normal non drug taking society” this is great. I know so many people who use their dole money to buy drugs and that is all that they do. They sponge from the governement and get all that they can and commit crime at the same time to fund their drug addiction.

From a heavy drug user perspective – I would be well pissed off. I would be parranoid about being reported to the Police about being a known drug user. I would probebly find another way to make money I.E Crime. However, if I wanted off the hard drugs (which Im sure this bill is aimed at) then this is a good thing. I could use this opportunity to get off and go back to work **cough** (IF THERE WERE ANY JOBS AVAILABLE) **cough**

:laugh_at::laugh_at::laugh_at:

But seriously, look at the two sides of the coin. Wihtout going onto the sick, being treatead for drug misuse etc etc I would not be where I am now. But I am also torn by the fact that now I am clean I see other current users abusing the system by not looking for work and using the giro to by drugs whilst commiting crime.

Any other thoughts – I hope someone on the professional side, perhaps a Policeman, somewith with authority comes forward as i really would like to know what they think about the propsed bill.
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