The government plans to strip drug addicts and alcoholics of sickness benefits if they do not seek treatment according to a column in the Telegraph (online) (See here) We first reported this proposal under the title “A bit of 'foot-shooting'? Why not!” (and thereafter: Update: A bit of foot-shooting? Why not!) reflecting AA's unerring ability to get itself precisely the sort of publicity it really doesn't need.
Apparently
the details have been firmed up now and an announcement will be made
about the trial schemes before Christmas. Thus:
“alcoholics
[will be] denied benefits unless they attended regular meetings at a
support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Similarly, drug addicts
would be denied payment if they refused to be treated.”
Whether
you agree with the 'more stick than carrot' approach employed by the
government the fact remains that Alcoholics Anonymous (and sister
fellowships) can expect an influx of slightly less than willing
participants whose attendance will largely be dictated by the
Department of Work and Pensions rather than any substantial desire on
their own part to stop drinking.
Clearly
the DWP sees Alcoholics Anonymous as an attractive adjunct to its
questionable welfare programme and no less so seeing that we come
free with an inbuilt mechanism which prevents us getting involved in
any controversy! Indeed we already have a 'chit system' in operation
which further facilitates the process.
Whichever
way it goes (these schemes have an uncanny habit of disappearing) in
the public mind AA is now irretrievably linked to a government policy
which probably won't work, and which simply reflects a bias towards
targeting the most vulnerable in our society whilst letting the rich
of scot free … and we do mean free! How much tax was it Starbucks
paid over the last three years.... Zilch! Surely not!
As
George Orwell might have
said: “We're all in this together but some of us are more
in it than
others!
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
