Q&A: Professor Neil McKeganey

Published on Monday 26 January 2009 21:06

The director of the Centre for Drug Misuse discusses claims that the SNP is blocking plans by the UK government to strip benefits from addicts who refuse to seek help.

Westminster plans to rescind the benefits of addicts, while the SNP claims its emphasis on rehab is the way forward. Is one policy better than the other?

I think you need both approaches in tackling the issue of drug rehabilitation. We have to look at the benefits system, but we have to ensure there is sufficient treatment available.

What is your opinion on the Westminster approach?

I do think it is questionable whether we should be giving addicts cash benefits in the same way that we do to other vulnerable groups. We know that a substantial amount will be used on drugs, so, effectively, government money is going to addicts, then to dealers. So it could be said that, in giving these people cash benefits, we are making things worse.

What do you think of the SNP's greater emphasis on rehabilitation?

I think that the Nationalist government should be putting more money into rehabilitation. At the moment there is evidence that there are existing rehab units with empty beds and insufficient places on rehab programmes, and yet the government just seems to be putting more money into the methadone programme.

What do you think about SNP claims of a potential crime wave being caused by the Westminster policy?

I think the great fear of politicians is that if they do not give drug addicts what they need, then they will resort to crime to get it. But they are already committing crimes to get money for drugs, even when they are receiving treatment.

Are you concerned about the impact of this spat on drug policy?

My concern is that, if this goes into deadlock, then the Scottish people will be the losers. We run the risk of frustrating the work of a lot of people who are trying to deal with this problem.