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| Authorities back down over UK drug users on benefits Opponents halt plans to order them into treatmentPlans to order drug users who are on benefits into treatment have been dropped after overwhelming opposition from medical and legal experts.The government's welfare reform bill would have given Jobcentre staff powers to "order" benefit claimants to undergo tests for drug addiction. But treatment agencies and charities, alarmed at the proposal, warned that it could deter addicts from confronting their problems.Under a redrafted bill due to become law this month, benefit claimants will be asked to undergo an assessment but will not have to accept any proposed treatment.Baroness Meacher, the crossbench peer who spearheaded opposition to the proposals, told the Observer: "The government's original intention to force drug users in the welfare system into mandatory treatment was flawed and unethical."The plan was championed by the former work and pensions secretary James Purnell, but it is understood to have fallen out of favour under his successor, Yvette Cooper. This is embarrassing for the government, which made it a central plank of its efforts to tackle "benefits Britain". It is estimated that 100,000 heroin and crack cocaine addicts claim benefits but are not in treatment."These proposals should never have made it to the very latter stages of the bill process, and we are delighted that some of the worst of them have been dropped," said Claudia Rubin, head of policy at the campaign group Release.Drugs policyDrugsJamie Dowardguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Rare crocs found hiding in plain sight in Cambodia BANGKOK (AP) -- Conservationists searching for one of the world's most endangered crocodile species say they have found dozens of the reptiles lounging in plain sight - at a wildlife rescue center in Cambodia.... hosted.ap.org |
Vital Signs: Hazards: ‘Stay-Tabs’ on Cans Aren’t Staying Out of Children A radiologist in Cincinnati found that the replacement for pull tabs were not childproof. feeds.nytimes.com |
125 pilot whales die on NZ beaches, 43 saved Some 125 pilot whales died in New Zealand after stranding on beaches over the weekend but vacationers and conservation workers managed to coax 43 others back out to sea. rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
Antarctica plane remains 'found' Australian researchers find what they believe are the remains of the first aeroplane ever taken to Antarctica. news.bbc.co.uk |