PLAN TO GIVE DRUG ADDICTS CONTRACEPTIVES

FEMALE drug addicts will be given long-term contraceptives under plans
being considered by ministers.

The Scottish Executive has said it is examining plans which were drawn
up last year which would see drug users given long-lasting
contraceptives, such as injections and coils in order to prevent them
having unwanted pregnancies.

The admission, comes in the wake of dramatic proposals by a leading
academic which would see women on drugs paid to go on
contraceptives.

But a spokesman for the Executive said ministers did not envisage
paying addicts not to have children, and no-one would be forced to
have contraception. He explained that the Hidden Harm report, which
was published last June, suggested long-term contraception for drug
addicts as one of a number of recommendations.

Neil McKeganey, professor of drug misuse research at Glasgow
University, said paying women addicts to take contraception would
slash the number of unwanted pregnancies among drug abusers.

He said the move would help tackle the "crisis" of neglect experienced
by tens of thousands of children with drug addict parents.

McKeganey's research showed some children were not being fed or
clothed properly. He said a few had woken up to find their parents had
died from an overdose. His research also suggested that more than 60%
of addict mothers and 85% of addict fathers no longer looked after
their children. Many of these children were instead being looked after
by grandparents or the local authority.

McKeganey said: "[The] situation is so far beyond our capacity that we
need to look at ways of reducing the likelihood of female drug users
becoming pregnant."

But a spokesman for the Catholic Church, Peter Kearney, said: "If you
are going to sterilise drug-addicted women, why stop there? Why not
sterilise alcoholics? There must be as many women with chronic alcohol
problems."