Scottish Drugs Forum
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10 July 2006
Proposals to withdraw the rights of drug users to have children while in treatment have been heavily criticised by Scottish Drugs Forum
Weekend newspaper reports (see Scotland on Sunday and Sunday Herald 9 July 2006) (open in new browser windows) say that Scottish Labour is considering a raft of measures for its party manifesto for next year’s Holyrood election in which problem drug users in treatment will be compelled to sign up to a series of contracted pledges – including pledging not to start a family while in treatment and undertaking regular drug tests - or risk losing their children and rights to free prescriptions, support services and even social security payments.
Part of the contract would involve mandatory attendance at a drug cessation programme, with a strict timetable set out to help each individual become drug-free. Users would also be required to attend compulsory drug treatment services, not required under current provision.
Scottish Drug Forum says: “There is a vicious tenor to these proposals and the apparent hypocrisy surrounding them is deeply disquieting.
"They will be totally counter-productive to children’s interests because parents needing help will shy away from seeking treatment rather than risk failing these draconian conditions for treatment.
“As well as doing more harm than good, they will be unworkable because they cannot be easily enforced.
“What’s proposed dehumanises people who are in need of help and support simply because their problems are seen as too difficult and complex for society to deal with.
“These proposals unfairly single out drug users for “hardline” treatment and are completely at odds with the patient-centred approach which is a basic and accepted principle applying to other groups in need of social and health care.
“Why is the focus on stricture and punishment instead of offering the necessary resources, encouragement, patience and understanding to help and support people who have come to – or been forced to, in the absence of much else - rely on illegal drugs to get through their lives?
“The chairman of the Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams has been quoted this week as saying that alcohol more than drugs represents the greatest threat to young people in Scotland.
“Between 80,000 and 100,000 children in Scotland are affected by parental alcohol problems – up to double the numbers affected by parental drug use.
“Quite rightly, no-one is suggesting that we adopt such proposals for these parents, or those with obesity or mental health issues, or those with serious smoking problems…yet. So do we really care about child welfare – or is this just an exercise in moral judgement?
“These proposals smack of cynical expediency and a depressing lack of vision. What’s more, they conveniently overlook the role of poverty, lack of employment and other strategic issues far removed from the sphere of influence of the average drug user – yet which create the bleak environment and conditions which encourage drug problems to proliferate.”