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Anti-drug campaign to target children aged five
February 28, 2007
Telegraph
Children as young as five could be given drugs education as part of a Government drive to tackle substance abuse in families.
Ministers said pupils entering primary school should be told about the dangers of drug misuse in ''an age appropriate way".
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The idea is one of a range of proposals in a new 10-year drugs strategy that intends to place emphasis on early intervention and treatment.
Kevin Brennan, the families minister, said young children should be taught about the drugs - legal and illegal - that they might find at home.
This would include what drugs looked like, and advice never to open bottles, touch needles or swallow anything.
Grandparents will be encouraged to care for the offspring of their drug-addicted children. It will be easier for them to win guardianship and receive grants for care, which will help to reduce the number of children of drug users taken into local authority care.
The Government is also considering whether to link benefit payments to an agreement to discuss attendance on drug treatment programmes.
Repeated refusal to take part could result in a financial penalty, although ministers could not say what the sanction would involve.
The document said the Government was ''exploring" making the payment of benefits a condition of receiving treatment and getting a job.
Gordon Brown told the Commons that it was right to look at reforms that would help 300,000 people on drugs and incapacity benefit get back to work.
At present, nearly 50,000 people who claim incapacity benefit, income support or jobseeker's allowance give "drug abuse" as the primary reason for their inability to get work.
Suggestions that drug users could end up losing benefits were played down.
Vernon Coaker, the Home Office minister, said: "We are trying to see how we can do this in a reasonable and proportionate way. The intention is not to get to a situation where there is a complete withdrawal of benefits."
David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said: ''All they are talking about is requiring an addict on benefits to attend a 'discussion' with a treatment provider and 'encourage' closer links between relevant agencies to get drug users referred to specialist agencies."
The strategy, which mainly affects England and Wales, received a mixed reception from drugs groups.
Deborah Cameron, of Addaction, said: "Removing financial support risks leading drug users back into crime.
"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."
Martin Barnes, the chief executive of DrugScope, said: "The emphasis on supporting families and improving outcomes for people in drug treatment is welcome.
"However, while the strategy is strong on aspiration it is unclear how improvement will be delivered, particularly at a time of reduced funding for adult treatment and young people's drug services."
It is estimated that class A drug abuse costs the country £15 billion in crime and health care every year.
The document also says legislation will be introduced to give police the power to seize items on arrest that might be the spoils of drug dealing, such as the car in which a suspect has been caught.
Police can only freeze assets during a criminal investigation on application to a judge. Mr Coaker said the change would prevent criminals hiding assets before trial. The items would be returned if found innocent.
Main proposals
• Extra police powers to seize assets of suspected dealers on arrest.
• Grandparents encouraged to look after drug addicts' children.
• Social workers to intervene earlier with children of problem users.
• Jobless benefits linked in part to attendance at discussion about treatment.
• Children to be taught drug dangers at early age.
• Schools rated by Ofsted inspectors on the effectiveness of anti-drugs lessons.
Link
February 28, 2007
Telegraph
Children as young as five could be given drugs education as part of a Government drive to tackle substance abuse in families.
Ministers said pupils entering primary school should be told about the dangers of drug misuse in ''an age appropriate way".
advertisement
The idea is one of a range of proposals in a new 10-year drugs strategy that intends to place emphasis on early intervention and treatment.
Kevin Brennan, the families minister, said young children should be taught about the drugs - legal and illegal - that they might find at home.
This would include what drugs looked like, and advice never to open bottles, touch needles or swallow anything.
Grandparents will be encouraged to care for the offspring of their drug-addicted children. It will be easier for them to win guardianship and receive grants for care, which will help to reduce the number of children of drug users taken into local authority care.
The Government is also considering whether to link benefit payments to an agreement to discuss attendance on drug treatment programmes.
Repeated refusal to take part could result in a financial penalty, although ministers could not say what the sanction would involve.
The document said the Government was ''exploring" making the payment of benefits a condition of receiving treatment and getting a job.
Gordon Brown told the Commons that it was right to look at reforms that would help 300,000 people on drugs and incapacity benefit get back to work.
At present, nearly 50,000 people who claim incapacity benefit, income support or jobseeker's allowance give "drug abuse" as the primary reason for their inability to get work.
Suggestions that drug users could end up losing benefits were played down.
Vernon Coaker, the Home Office minister, said: "We are trying to see how we can do this in a reasonable and proportionate way. The intention is not to get to a situation where there is a complete withdrawal of benefits."
David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said: ''All they are talking about is requiring an addict on benefits to attend a 'discussion' with a treatment provider and 'encourage' closer links between relevant agencies to get drug users referred to specialist agencies."
The strategy, which mainly affects England and Wales, received a mixed reception from drugs groups.
Deborah Cameron, of Addaction, said: "Removing financial support risks leading drug users back into crime.
"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."
Martin Barnes, the chief executive of DrugScope, said: "The emphasis on supporting families and improving outcomes for people in drug treatment is welcome.
"However, while the strategy is strong on aspiration it is unclear how improvement will be delivered, particularly at a time of reduced funding for adult treatment and young people's drug services."
It is estimated that class A drug abuse costs the country £15 billion in crime and health care every year.
The document also says legislation will be introduced to give police the power to seize items on arrest that might be the spoils of drug dealing, such as the car in which a suspect has been caught.
Police can only freeze assets during a criminal investigation on application to a judge. Mr Coaker said the change would prevent criminals hiding assets before trial. The items would be returned if found innocent.
Main proposals
• Extra police powers to seize assets of suspected dealers on arrest.
• Grandparents encouraged to look after drug addicts' children.
• Social workers to intervene earlier with children of problem users.
• Jobless benefits linked in part to attendance at discussion about treatment.
• Children to be taught drug dangers at early age.
• Schools rated by Ofsted inspectors on the effectiveness of anti-drugs lessons.
Link
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