General Chat

Jailed drug addicts who were forced to undergo *cold turkey* for their addictions are poised to win huge pay-outs. They allege their human rights were violated and the treatment amounted to assault. Compensation could run into tens of thousands of pounds. Who will pay the bill ? THE TAXPAYER !!! I feel as if my human rights are being violated . How do others feel ?

I feel the same as when we have to shell out millions for failed asylum seekers to be housed/given money/flown home, etc... the druggies were actually done a favour by the prison system making them come OFF the drugs, but they wouldnt see it like that.

I think we should all become addicts commit a crime cold turkey, You know what say if u cant beat em join em Lilxx

Sorry Connie didnt see your thread when I started the other one. Think it is completely wrong. What human rights are they entitled to if they have committed a crime. What about the poor souls whose property has been stolen to pay for their drug habits in the first place.

I'd like to know if any are in for assault and if they are would the person they assaulted be able to sue seeing as they will have money .

What is this country coming to.. I was told the other day that if an alcoholic is claiming benefit they get extra to fund their addiction. Not sure how true this is.. Alyson

Alyson That is true a freind of my son went to the social every day at 4.00pm for his money Valxxx

Cheers Val. I did not believe it...

Unbelievable! xx

I'm not sure that the huge payouts are justified, but it is a fact that going 'cold turkey' can be life-threatening for addicts. There are better ways to deal with the issue, even for those in jail.

Felicity u and me have the same veiws it seems..xxxxxxxxx(on my thread aswell i mean) i didnt know how to put what i wanted too on here earlier...and u have done it for mexxx

Hello Mrs P. It's nice to be on the same wavelength as you. I hope I don't sound too 'preachy' or like a 'know-all' on your thread.

if you chose to become a drug user and you chose to commit a crime to pay for your drug habits then you face the consequences. Even if it does mean cold turkey.

lets go back to the good old days of bread and water, locked up for 24hrs a day with a slop bucket! then lets see how many criminals would be in jail. lol sorry but i think they have it far too cushy i know of pensioners that dont have what prisoners get inside. and this business about them suing - well that is the last straw. i work hard for my pay and then the tax they take goes on this sort of thing! arggggggggggggggggggg tina x

You have Cherie and Tony Blair to blame for this Human Rights Act nonsense. Every single person I have spoken to has said the same..... absolutely ridiculous, & thats the printable version! If there is an addiction to be treated, then that should be done under the supervision of a doctor whilst the inmate is inside. Otherwise - tough

Absolute disgrace. What a mockery this makes of the Human Rights Act which was introduced following the Nazi atrocities. In total 197 are going to get compensated. It was 198, one died. I wonder from what! Approx. £700,000 of our money will be shared out and no doubt go to feed their habit. It's like giving an alcoholic the keys to an off licence. They will use that money to fund their addiction and when it's gone they will either be dead or back in jail again. Prisons have detox programmes where they are offered substitute drugs. Those who refuse treatment do so because the prison system is awash with illegal drugs which they can get their hands on anyway. Another case of the lunatics running the asylum. This once great nation of ours is being systematically eroded from within. I pray to God that we waken up before it's too late. Aileen xxx

Were the jails anywhere near empty in the 'good old days'? I'm not saying that I agree with the payouts, but Tony and Cherie are in no way personally or solely responsible and there is something about the recipients being forced to go 'cold turkey' which is not the same as refusing treatment.

Well it seems I'm in a minority here. I think it's wrong to force people to do 'cold turkey' if they are already on medication to help them off the addiction, after all the addiction was probably what got them into prison in the first place, isn't it only fair that people should be allowed to carry on taking medication as part of rehabilitation? Forcing them to stop is not only dangerous but totally inhumane. I agree they should seek compensation, what a complete cock-up by the prisons, everyone is entitled to treatment no matter what its for whilst your in prison, supposing a sex offender was having treatment for sex offending and they then were put in prison, I bet everyone would be up in arms about them having there rehab stopped just because they were inside. It works the same no matter what the crime, everyone in this country is entitled to treatment for health and well being, it shouldn't be withdrawn just because they spend time inside, human rights count in all cases, you can't pick and choose who gets a pay out. Gillie.

re-posted, from Lost li'l cousins thread I think that the gist of it was............ new prisoners are supposed to get seen by the M.O., and their needs assessed..............these prisoners were ''Missed'' out, and so were ''subject to inhumane treatment'' while treatment for their addictions was temporarily withheld..........and to avoid a costly series of court cases , they were settled '' Out of Court'...........and If THAT isn't setting a PRECEDENT I dont know what is........ Bob

Maybe there will be more effort not to 'miss people out', Bob.