Addaction respond to 2008 Drug Strategy

Addaction, Britain's biggest specialist drug and alcohol treatment charity, today pledged support for government plans to target families affected by problem drug use, but questioned how proposals to remove benefits from drug users dropping out of treatment will be financed with no new money available for drug treatment.

Deborah Cameron, Addaction Chief Executive said:

“With budgets staying flat or going down in all areas apart from prison work, it is difficult to see how proposals on incapacity benefit - which are designed to bring more people into the system – will work.

“We agree that it is important to help drug users into training and employment, but coercing people into services with the threat of benefit cuts needs further explanation. It’s often because they are unable to get decent housing or can’t find a job, that many of the people we work with relapse or drop out of treatment. What if they have families to support? Removing financial support risks leading drug users back into crime.

“We are encouraged that the government has recognized that children shouldn’t be left struggling to cope with a parent’s addiction on their own. Reaching these families is vital to preventing future drug use when Class A drugs among 16-24 year olds is at record levels in the UK and among the highest in Europe.

“But the budget for work with young people is going down by several million pounds over the next three years. Removing ‘bling’ from drug dealers will not finance all the areas that are seeing a loss of income.

“Addaction’s work with chaotic families shows that intensive, persistent work pays off. But cash-strapped local authorities and local voluntary organizations cannot tackle this problem without more money. We urge the government to match this important pledge today to support families with the resources needed to back it up.”

ENDS

For further information please contact the Addaction press office on 0207 017 2866 or 07899 068151

Notes to editors:

Addaction will be providing a more detailed commentary on the Drug Strategy which will be available at www.addaction.org.uk

Addaction is Britain’s biggest specialist drug and alcohol treatment charity, supporting over 26,000 people with drug and alcohol problems. We have over 70 services in England and Scotland for individuals and their families, including nine dedicated services supporting young people and their families affected by problem drug and alcohol use

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