News

Many of those begging on the streets are fighting drug, alcohol or mental health problems. Recent government research found that more than 86 per cent of beggars reported using drugs, with heroin and crack prominent. Moreover, a study of beggars by Glasgow University found that nearly half had been in council care. But is the answer to force them into treatment?

The government thinks it is and has shown its hand by publishing a white paper, Respect and Responsibility. Among the proposals are one to make begging a recordable offence and another to coerce drug users into treatment. Although not included in the Antisocial Behaviour Bill the proposals could yet be introduced.

But evidence from homelessness charity Centrepoint's work with chaotic drug users suggests that coercion and rigid regimes are not effective. Young people entrenched in drug use are unlikely to respond well to the enforced treatment proposed by the white paper. Services must allow them to work at their own pace.

Rather than an initial approach based on reduction and abstinence, there is a need to take a step back and begin the slow process of building a young person's trust as a basis for increasing their motivation to address their drug use and complex inter-connected issues. Centrepoint workers suggest it can take three months to help someone stop using additional drugs on top of a prescription for methadone, let alone to start to address deeper issues. By using the criminal justice system as a gateway to coerced treatment, the government is in serious danger of setting vulnerable people up to fail. This may reinforce their exclusion and could make it more difficult for them to remain motivated in the future.

It is true that some young people will benefit from treatment, but appropriate drug treatment services are scarce. Centrepoint has found a lack of detoxification, rehabilitation and stabilisation units and waits of six months or more to enter detoxification programmes. Drug use often masks other underlying problems which may need a far wider response than treatment alone. The lack of appropriate supported housing for drug users continues to be a major flaw in the system. The reality is that young people who use drugs are often excluded from homelessness services and given the message that they are "too difficult" to work with.

Even when young homeless people do complete treatment programmes the problems continue. In the foreword to Labour's Updated Drug Strategy 2002, home secretary David Blunkett admitted that accessing after-treatment services "can be a lengthy and difficult process". At this stage supported move-on accommodation is needed for progress. But all too often, the good work is undone because people end up in inappropriate hostel accommodation, surrounded by chaotic drug users and lacking support.


The government's decision to refocus the drugs strategy on problematic drug misuse (specifically heroin and crack) and harm reduction is welcome. But the basis for accessing treatment is still weighted towards the criminal justice system. More than 11,000 drug treatment and testing orders have been handed out since their introduction in October 2000. Yet evidence suggests that they are not an effective response to offenders deeply entrenched in drug use who often need an intensive period of therapeutic work before they are ready to begin to address their issues.

Interventions need to be made a lot earlier than at the point of arrest if the cycle of homelessness, drug use and offending is to be broken. In addition, a range of support services for homeless young people is needed; not just when crisis point is reached but when they first become homeless and before drug use escalates.

Arresting and coercing someone into treatment for begging will further alienate them from society. For this we need early intervention, immediate and flexible treatment services and appropriate supported housing.

Ellie Lewis is a policy and research officer at homelessness charity Centrepoint. Contact her at elewis@centrepoint.org