1,400 ON BENEFITS DUE TO DRUGS
MORE people in Bristol are claiming disability benefits because they are addicted to illegal drugs than anywhere else in the country.
Government figures show that more than 1,400 people in the city are receiving incapacity benefit or its replacement, employment support allowance, because of their drug problems – more than in any other local authority area, Birmingham, Glasgow or Manchester.
The government released the data to try to generate support for its controversial shake-up of benefit payments.
According to the figures, from the Department for Work and Pensions, drug addiction was the main reason for welfare dependency of 990 incapacity benefit claimants and 420 people receiving ESA.
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City council bosses said it had been recognised that Bristol had one of the highest numbers of "complex drug users" in Britain.
Ministers said the figures showed why the whole benefits system needs to be transformed. But a Bristol charity warned of "marginalising" people with drug problems.
Bristol West Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Williams said: "There may well be a lot of people receiving benefits because of drug addiction. But curtailing their benefits isn't going to deal with that."
Charlotte Leslie, Conservative MP for Bristol North West, said: "It is obviously bad for everybody if we have got a large number of people languishing on benefits because of drug or alcohol problems. They are not getting the support – it doesn't help them if all they are getting from the state is something to feed the habit. They need to break the cycle."
Ms Leslie, who said she backed the government's moves to reform welfare, said it would be a "massive challenge" to change the way addictions and mental health issues are dealt with.
Regina Birtto, of Knowle West Alcohol and Drug Service, said Bristol's high numbers of claimants could mean the city has a good network of support and information for addicts.
She said: "There is a huge hub of support in Bristol."
There was a danger of "marginalising" drug addicts by highlighting the support they receive, she said.
"Each case is individual and separate. You don't know what circumstances that person has been in over the years."
A city council spokeswoman said the government decided who should be eligible for benefit payments.
She said: "Bristol is the largest city in the South West and drug users often gravitate to an urban area. As such, we have higher numbers.
"Nationally it is recognised that Bristol is in a group of cities that have the highest number in the country of more complex drug users and some alcoholics who have multiple problems. They may have severe mental health problems, be homeless, or be working in the sex industry for example."
The council works with other organisations including job centres and the National Treatment Agency to help addicts recover and prepare for work, she said.
Outside the city centre, North Somerset had 440 people claiming either incapacity benefit or ESA, South Gloucestershire 160 and B&NES 200.
Figures for London were divided up between the capital's boroughs – but no individual borough had more people claiming one of the two benefits than Bristol.
The DWP also listed people claiming disability living allowance (DLA) because of either drug or alcohol addiction in the figures, which date from last November. It said there were 320 in Bristol but did not break down the figures to show in how many cases drug use was a factor.
Across the country, 20,000 people were listed as receiving benefits because of drug or alcohol addiction.
The coalition's controversial reforms include replacing DLA with a new payment with tougher criteria.
And all incapacity benefit claimants are being subjected to physical tests to see whether they are capable of working.
There has been criticism that people are being judged fit to work by the automated tests, and this week Professor Malcolm Harrington, the man appointed to review the process, announced he was standing down.
A DWP spokeswoman said: "The reassessment of 1.5 million people on incapacity benefit and the work capability assessment we use means we can take account of conditions that change over time. If you can work you will get the all the help and support you need to do so.
"These figures show the scale of the problem and the ludicrous situation that used to exist and why we are right to reform the system."
Comments
by PROPSreal
Saturday, August 04 2012, 9:24AM
“"Hang the dealers and tougher sentences for the users." - RemoteControl
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calling for the violent death of your fellow human beings is a crime, and in some eyes a far worse crime that petty drug dealing.”
by saggysoul
Thursday, August 02 2012, 10:25AM
“If people can they will. Simple. I could of gone down that road but it was made much harder back in the day so i didnt. Work is hard, life is hard but you get on with it. Most of us can play the blame game but at the end of the day you have to take responsibility for yourself and thats exactly what most (not all) are not doing. There are plenty out there that genuinely need help and then there are those that just help themselves. It will continue to be an ever growing problem as long as the benefits culture remains and thats where it gets complicated. The government has to make the right moves where employment is concerned cos people should have the right to work and take pride in their work what ever the job may be. If i didnt have a job id soon get depressed then sink. There is a big difference between addicts and those unable to work through disability etc. Too many hop on that band wagon then wonder why a wheel drops off. The answer unfortunately is as clear as mud.”
by blahblkah
Wednesday, August 01 2012, 8:14PM
“Living the dream.”
by PolitDave
Wednesday, August 01 2012, 8:01PM
“"@Badladdy As with the majority of EP readers my parents and grandparents grew up in conditions that were far far worst than the taxpayer subsidized dope taking super strength lager drinkers I see when I am either starting or finishing my shift. Society cannot be blamed for these people, it is those who cultivate envy of those that achieve and foster the belief that everything should be given free on a plate.”
by Badladdy
Wednesday, August 01 2012, 7:28PM
“Good old EP, getting its readers to vent their anger at societies unfortunates. Most of these addicts were probably on benefits before they starting taking drugs. Are we to believe that it's a lifestyle choice?
It's all very well to start frothing over your keyboard, but most drug addicts are victims of society, not the cause of its ills.
If you were brought up by parents (and sometimes grandparents) that never worked in a rough area and where the schools are awful and drugs are everywhere, how far do you think you would get?
The post can use CAPS LOCK in the headline - I'm not having it, I refuse to hate these people. My hatred is firmly directed at the one per cent who have all the wealth, corporations relentless pursuit of profit at all costs & governments starting resource based wars.”
by Madhector
Wednesday, August 01 2012, 7:01PM
“what a load of nonsense. this data, like other misleading articles which have been flying around the right wing press the last few days, has been released because the Dispatches and Panorama programme both broadcast on Monday night, showed the Work Capability Test conducted by Atos healthcare to be a completely flawed, unfair and inhumane test, specifically designed to pass as many people fit for work as possible. It doesn't matter how bad ones health is, terminally ill with more than 6 months to live, fit for work! Dispatches went under cover at Atos health care and uncovered despicable practices in the way they treat very vulnerable people. The truth about the governments treatment and labour before them, of sick and disabled who are unable to work is now beginning to surface and this government is running scared and using every dirty trick in the book to keep the reality away from the wider public. It's clear that many commentators here are unaware of what's going on, I'd suggest you find out because believe me this is affects all of you too. Wake up people before it's to late!!!”
by RemoteControl
Wednesday, August 01 2012, 5:01PM
“Hang the dealers and tougher sentences for the users.”
by endbell
Wednesday, August 01 2012, 4:50PM
“"The government released the data to try to gain support for their controversial shake-up of benefit payments."
so they can use this as an excuse to cut payments to disabled people.
Conservatives. Putting the n into cuts.”
by Morrissey9
Wednesday, August 01 2012, 3:59PM
“I think it is slightly more complex than the authorities just seeing someone addicted to drugs and showering them in free money. Many cases drugs are just one of the issues that particular person has. To start with there are far more than just 1400 people addicted to drugs and alcohol in Bristol, and judging by their appearance, criminal habits and sleeping arrangements, it certainly isn't a road to riches.”
by krankenhaus
Wednesday, August 01 2012, 2:03PM
“Sorry for the mistyping of your name!”