MSP - Birth control call for methadone

[Cormeh]

Well, I honestly never thought I'd see this day - me starting a thread in the politics section. Anyhoo, I was surprised to see this today:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4763137.stm

A politician with an idea I actually agree with, adding contraceptive to methadone supplies for addicts.

Read the article, digest and see what you think. Personally, I'm all for it. Reasons? So many stories of children being born, already addicted to heroin because of the mother being an addict herself.

The way forward is to support people with drug misuse problems, not to have a state programme of contraception.

And for so long we've tried it. Tried and tried again. You can't help those who won't help themselves. Well, this is the first time I've outspoken politically (in a sense) here. Could be fun.....

 

[Solaris]

I'm not sure. It sounds bit eary. Drug addicts should not be having children, but who are we to stop them?

 

[Loc-Dog]

What about those who want to have children? You deny them drug rehab?

 

[CptStern]

oh nice, this is like sterilising the mentally handicapped that was common in the not too distant past. Does the state have rights to our reproductive system? at what point does state intervention in people's lives go to far? if this is passed, I'm sure the sky's the limit

oh and you cant force people to take methadone ..and usually if they're at that point in their addiction, they're trying to get help

 

[Loc-Dog]

If you don't want kids, theres other things for that. You don't have to mix all the drugs and shit.

Thats like putting cough medicine and prozac into aspirin, just to shut people up.

 

[JNightshade]

...
what a bloody awful idea :|

 

[Mechagodzilla]

Personally, I think that getting addicted to meth in the first place, you should know that your kids will be put at risk.

In the end, it's not sterilization because it's not permanent and it's voluntary.

In that respect, the plan prevents needless risk to kids while doing no permanent harm.
If they choose the therapy, they can get pregnant after they're clean.

The good outweighs the negligible harm.

 

[Cormeh]

What about those who want to have children? You deny them drug rehab?

No, how about people just don't have children when they have a drug addiction? It's not going to provide a good start at life for a baby or provide a good start at parenthood for a drug addict.

UK - Babies mean benefits.

 

[gick]

This is obviously a baaaaad thing. Of course its a stupid idea for drug addicts to have kids, but if the government can decide whether or not your going to have kids, where will it stop? People with learning disabilities? Deaf people?

Maybe handing out free contraceptives with the methadone would be an idea. The amount of money saved in NHS treatment and benefits would easily cover the cost of that.

 

[short recoil]

Sounds good to me, if the want the methadone it's got that in it too.
If they look after themselves they have kids, just like it should be.

But then again i'm a bit of a survival of the fittest right wing type.

 

[dys4iK]

What if people were given the choice between normal methadone and contraceptive methadone?