Radical measures are required, argues commission
19 December 2008
Government efforts to get drug users into jobs through welfare reform proposals may not work unless radical steps are taken to support employers, research has suggested.
Two-thirds of the 135 employers surveyed by the UK Drug Policy Commission said they would refuse to employ a former heroin or crack cocaine user, even if they were otherwise suitable for the job.
Employers identified the need for practical support and help to manage risks associated with employing former drug users.
More radical measures such as incentives and legislation may also be needed to reduce the stigma and discrimination faced by recovering drug users trying to re-enter the labour market, the report argued.
Last week, the government announced in its welfare reform paper, which included plans to force nearly all benefit claimants to take practical steps to look for work or face losing their state benefits.
John Varley, UKDPC president and group chief executive of Barclays, said: “This review suggests that, if we are going to make serious headway in reducing drug misuse, employers need to be prepared to consider hiring suitable candidates who are recovering from a history of drug problems. Employment is a key source of rehabilitation and reintegration into society.”
Jeremy Hardie, UKDPC Commissioner and former chairman of WH Smith Group, added: “Welfare sanctions and support alone are not enough to get recovering drug users into work. As unemployment levels rise, the problem of engaging employers with this group will become even more acute.”