Carrots and sticks: problem drug users and welfare reform

Wincup explores both the New Labour government's and the Coalition's proposals to tackle problem drug users through welfare reform. This short article explores the New Labour government's controversial proposals to redefine drug treatment as a 'work-related activity' and require all problem drug users wishing to claim benefits to take steps to abstain from drug use. It ends by considering briefly an alternative approach proposed by the Coalition government to 'nudge' drug dependent benefit claimants towards drug treatment, potentially through the use of financial incentives.