Wednesday 23 May 2012

UK Jobseekers who reject help for alcohol and drug addiction face benefits cut

Unemployed people suspected of suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction will have their benefits cut if they refuse treatment for their condition, the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, will signal on Wednesday. In a sign of the government's new benefits regime, which lies at the heart of Duncan Smith's cost-cutting welfare changes, staff in Jobcentre Plus offices will be encouraged to cut the jobseeker's allowance of claimants who reject treatment for addiction. The new rules will come into place in October 2013 when the universal credit, which is designed to wrap benefits into one payment, is introduced. A new claimant contract lies at the heart of the universal credit reforms. Claimants will have to sign a contract in which they agree to look for work in exchange for an undertaking from the government to support them while they do so. Government sources said the contract would allow Jobcentre Plus staff to say that a suspected addict is in breach of their commitments if they refuse help for alcoholism or drug addiction. Duncan Smith will give a flavour of the new rules when he addresses an event in parliament organised by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). He will say: "The outdated benefits system fails to get people off drugs and put their lives on track. We have started changing how addicts are supported, but we must go further to actively take on the devastation that drugs and alcohol can cause. "Under universal credit we want to do more to encourage and support claimants into rehabilitation for addiction and starting them on the road to recovery and eventually work. Getting people into work and encouraging independence is our ultimate goal. Universal credit will put people on a journey towards a sustainable recovery so they are better placed to look for work in future and we will be outlining our plans shortly." It is understood that the work and pensions secretary will not make a formal announcement on Wednesday of the powers that will be handed to Jobcentre Plus staff. Duncan Smith wants to use the event to focus on what he regards as the positive work AA does in helping to treat alcoholism. A government source said: "Iain wants to focus on the brilliant work Alcoholics Anonymous does in changing people's lives. He really wants to encourage people who have drink problems to go to AA for treatment. It will transform their lives and will help them into work." The source said Duncan Smith believes it is right to give jobcentre staff powers to cut benefits if an addict refuses treatment because they can detect signs of trouble. The source said: "The universal credit will allow staff in Jobcentre Plus offices to say: this person has been unemployed for some time. The staff know if people are addicted to alcohol. They know the people they are dealing with. "But we want this to be positive and to be about signposting people to superb organisations that can help them. This is about changing their lives. It is very important to support addicts into the workplace." But if claimants refuse they will have their benefits docked. "There will be sanctions," the source said, citing cuts to the jobseeker's allowance as an example. Ministers believe that one indicator Jobcentre Plus staff can use to see whether a claimant is an addict is the amount of times they apply for a crisis loan. "If you are applying for that up to 10 times a year then that is a sign of a chaotic life," one source said. Analysis by the Department of Work and Pensions shows that almost 40,000 people claim incapacity benefit with alcoholism declared as their "primary diagnosis". Of these, 13,500 have been claiming for a decade or more. There are about 160,000 "dependent drinkers" in England who receive one or more of the main benefits. There are 1m violent crimes a year that are related to alcoholism and 1.2m admissions to hospitals a year related to alcoholism. Universal credit is the most important element of Duncan Smith's welfare reforms, developed during his years in opposition through his Centre for Social Justice, which is designed to achieve his central goal of encouraging people into work. It will integrate tax credits and out-of-work benefits into one payment, with the aim of smoothing the transition to work. Labour has given the universal credit a cautious welcome, though it has taken issue with the scale of benefit cuts. Lord Low of Dalston, the vice-president of the Royal National Institute of Blind People who sits as a crossbencher, told peers this year: "Though it has some very sensible and progressive things at its core, in the shape of the universal credit, nevertheless it goes too far to most people's consciences in the way in which it takes vital support away from some of the most needy in our society."

Monday 7 May 2012

Overdue babies risk behavioural problems

Overdue babies are at higher risk of health problems, research suggests. A study found babies born after 42 weeks were more likely to suffer behavioural problems such as ADHD in early life. Most UK mothers are induced before 42 weeks but pregnancies lasting beyond 43 weeks are not unknown. Women should be aware of the risks of prolonging pregnancy, experts report in the International Journal of Epidemiology. The research was carried out in The Netherlands, where until recently it was commonplace for women to choose not to be induced if they were overdue. A study of more than 5 000 babies found those born after 42 weeks were more likely to develop behavioural problems than those born around their due date, and had more than twice the risk of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Lead researcher Dr Hanan El Marroun from the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Erasmus MC-Sophia in Rotterdam said post-term as well as pre-term births seemed to be associated with long-term health effects. She said “Every pregnant woman knows that if the child comes early that’s not good, so why don’t we question the long-term effects of when a child comes too late?” In the UK, guidelines state than women should be induced between 41 and 42 weeks, and warned about the possible complications if they wish to prolong pregnancy. Complications include a higher risk of stillbirth and difficulties in delivering large babies. However, a minority of women, dubbed “the 10-month mamas”, believe a baby will come in its own time and avoid medical intervention. Dr Virginia Beckett is a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology and a spokeswoman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Commenting on the study, she said: “In the UK it is unusual for women to go beyond 42 weeks. Some people choose to go beyond 42 weeks and our advice would be they increase their risk of stillbirth and other complications.”

Geordie lasses make North East the UK’s booziest region

Horrified experts found girls there aged 21 and under now top the list of shame for getting plastered in England and Wales. More are nicked by local Northumbria cops for being drunk and disorderly than anywhere else. Meanwhile the number of under-18s in the area being treated for drink problems is DOUBLE the national average. Shocked Colin Shevills, head of health campaign organisation Balance — which is based in the North East — hit out at telly show Geordie Shore for helping to glamorise alcohol. The MTV programme regularly shows its stars falling out of nightclubs, brawling in the street and downing shots until they drop. Mr Shevills said: “Programmes like Geordie Shore trivialise alcohol misuse — suggesting that drinking to the point of getting in a fight or becoming physically ill is amusing.”

Group warns of area alcohol problem

Twice as many young people living in the North East of England receive treatment for alcohol problems compared with the rest of the country, a study has found. Figures from health campaign group Balance show 118 of every 100,000 under 18s in the North East were treated for drink problems - double the national average. More than 600 of the 9,450 people receiving specialist alcohol treatment in the region in 2010/11 were under the age of 18, Balance said. The North East-based group is now calling for a review of alcohol advertising to help tackle "harmful and hazardous" levels of drinking among young people. Balance director Colin Shevills said: "Our region is drinking too much from an early age driven by alcohol which is too affordable, too available and too heavily promoted. Although the Government's alcohol strategy aims to turn the tide against binge drinking, it is weak on a clear strategy around the marketing and promotion of alcohol. Our concern is that it will remain effectively self-regulatory. This is why we need to call on Government for change." Melanie Souter, from young people's service Matrix, said: "Some young people who are drinking are doing so in a harmful and hazardous way with higher strength alcohol products at affordable, pocket-money prices. Alcohol advertising reinforces messages that it is either cool, or it makes you more attractive or it's something that everyone does to have a good time." Balance has started a petition to call for a ban on alcohol advertising aimed at young people. It wants to prevent alcohol adverts being shown on television and in the cinema for under 18 certificate films, as well as on social networking sites, and through alcohol sponsorship of sporting and youth events. Nationally, an average of 59 young people out of every 100,000 have been treated for alcohol problems, Balance said. The North West has the second highest rate with 99 under 18s out of 100,000 in treatment, followed by the East Midlands with 62 per 100,000. In London, 47 young people out of every 100,000 received alcohol treatment. The Department of Health said it had set out "radical plans to turn the tide against irresponsible drinking" and had given local areas powers to tackle local problems. A DH spokeswoman said: "Making sure young people understand about the harm alcohol can cause is critical. We will be launching a new way of helping get this message across later in the year."

Drug-drivers to face jail time under new law

Drivers found to have taken drugs face a prison sentence of up to six months and a fine of up to £5,000 under new legislation, ministers reveal on Monday. Plans to make driving while under the influence of drugs an offence will be included in a crime, communications and courts bill that will be in the Queen's speech on Wednesday. Offenders will also face an automatic driving ban. Police forces are to be supplied with devices that will allow them to test drivers for drugs, once the equipment receives approval from the Home Office this year. Under the law at present, the police can only prosecute drivers who have taken drugs if they can show that driving ability has been affected. David Cameron said the government had been encouraged to act by the campaign launched by the parents of Lillian Groves, a 14-year-old from Surrey killed by a speeding motorist who had been smoking cannabis. The driver pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was sentenced to eight months in prison but was released after just eight weeks. Cameron said: "I found meeting Lillian Groves's family in Downing Street late last year incredibly moving. As they said at the time, it simply can't be right that a schoolgirl … can lose her life and then we discover we don't have the laws or the technology to punish drug-drivers properly. We want to do for drug-driving what drink-driving laws have done for driving under the influence of alcohol. "That's why we're doing what we can to get drugalysers rolled out more quickly. And this week we'll publish a new drug-driving offence so that driving under the influence of drugs itself is a crime, just like it is for drink-driving." The new offence will cover drivers who have taken illegal drugs, but the exact drugs covered and the limits that apply will be determined by a panel of alcohol and drug experts. Mike Penning, the road safety minister, said: "The new offence sends out a clear message – that if you drive while under the influence of drugs you will not get away with it. "We have an enviable record on road safety in this country and I want to keep it that way. This measure will help to rid our roads of the irresponsible minority who would risk the lives of innocent motorists and pedestrians." In the past the Department for Transport has said that one in five drivers killed in road accidents might have had an impairing drug, legal or illegal, in their body. Those thought to be most at risk were young men aged 17 to 29. The government announced at the start of the year that it was assembling a panel of experts to look at introducing a law against taking drugs and driving, and to assess the means of testing and possible legal limits for motorists. The move follows a recommendation in a 2010 review of drink- and drug-driving law by the legal expert Sir Peter North – although his proposals to cut the drink-driving limit were rejected by the previous transport secretary, Philip Hammond. On Wednesday, the Queen's speech will set out the next legislative programme for the new session of parliament. Following the Conservatives' poor performance in the local elections last week, ministers are under pressure to highlight the populist measures in the legislative programme.