to think that those who object to alcoholics and drug addicts getting benefits, abu?

[StuckinTheMiddlewithYou]

Alcoholism and drug addiction is not an endless Saturday night out, so much as a slow, painful decline into undignified misery and self-loathing. Most people who get into that situation are actually self-medicating an undiagnosed mental health problem.

If anything, the number of addicts in the country is a dreadful stain on the provision of mental health services.

I never said it was 'shit loads of money'

But incapacity benefit and ESA are more than other benefits.

Alcoholism is classed as a medical condition for the purposes of claiming benefits, if it affects the claimant in a way that makes them unfit for work, they can then claim IB or ESA (because obviously it's changed)

That is what I find objectionable.

I understand you make find it objectionable, but believe me the government arnt doing that because they think alcoholics are to classed the same as disabled people.

You are qualified through bieng "unfit to work". So everyone is put in the same boat.

Incidently, what are your views on anorexics? They could quite easily just stick some food in their mouths, yes? So do you think they should be made to work and not given benefits aswell?

Darth can you PM me his addy? he might have some advice to offer my friend. Poor souls in a right state atm (his wife is panicking and won;t let him do anything so their marriage is suffering and..... well you can imagine).

Haven't read the whole thread but I agree with you op. I've worked on gastric wards and seen people from all walks of life devastated by alcohol addiction. I don't think it's a situation anyone chooses to be in.

Think they deserve benefits as much as anyone else. Many illnesses/hospital admissions are also caused by mental health problems, inactivity, poor diet, smoking - some of these are caused by poor childhoods, relationships, poverty, bullying.

Why does an alcohol addict get so little sympathy?

It's something that really annoys me.

nulliusxinxverbax the daily mail is right and you have proved it you

Have mental Health issues were so sick couldn't work or look after yourself but some how decided you could look after a child wilest on benafits with the father no were to bee seen no doubt you have more than one and if not will be a 4x 4 by the Olympics ended

The daily mail only wish they could get hold of a story like yours

Ha ha maypole that is hilarious.....

Really, try being literate and re read my posts.

Firstly I dont have mental health issues now, Secondly I specifically pointed out that my MH issues and addiction issues were totally seperate, and that later on I became pregnant not at the same time.

What makes you think I decided to have more than one child, with no fathers? Please explain this (or try your best, sans rambling)

What a stupid post maypole

I was on incapacity benefit whilst ttc DS4. I couldnt work at the time but I sure as hell could look after a baby. Two different things you see.
Having a baby is not a stressful activity (to me), going to work, having to stay out of my home for hours at a time, dealing with people, office politics, commuting etc - v.stressful.

As it happens we have had FIVE children even though OH is disabled and I have had MH issues.

Daily Mail would LOVE that too.

Mind you they may be confused that we have also paid over 50 years worth of tax between us and my OH fought a stupid fucking war for this country.

maypole1 Mon 25-Apr-11 20:42:53.

You're pathetic. That post was the most childish, churlish, mean and pointless I have ever read on MN.

Nullis how restrained you are. What an idiot they are.

Thanks for your support MrsDeVere and StuckinTheMiddlewithYou

Theres always one though isnt there. I expect the comments regarding my history, but really, The daily mail want my story??

They could offer me 3 million quid and that sub-journalistic bigotted crap rag wouldnt get my story.

Nullius - I agree with everything you have said, and I think you should be commended rather than insulted, for overcoming your addiction.

FWIW, my ex was main carer for a year, to our child who has a serious medical condition. The stress of being a carer along with other issues, meant he turned to drink.

He was and still is a fantastic father, he just crumbled under the pressure he was under. He sought help and after a long struggle is getting there, and he still has regular contact with our child.

Do I judge him? Not at all - that won't bring him back from the grip of addiction. He is doing well now - but I know he battles with this often.

For anyone interested he was only given income support, HB and CTC when he was dealing with his alcohol addiction. He got far less money than when he was caring for our child.

Whilst i agree with most of what you have said OP ,there is unfortunately an element of the drug addicted population who is more than happy to stay on methadone for 10 years plus , i know of least two people in this situation. But until we have good detox and after care , we can hardly blame the people who are addicted .

there is unfortunately an element of the drug addicted population who is more than happy to stay on methadone for 10 years plus

Agreed, but times are changing in terms of treatment and recovery models. The only acceptable aim now is abstinence.

And to all those who think being an alcoholic is an easy ride , pop into where i work and watch the poor buggers die a very slow and excruiatingly painful death.

Good to hear ilovesooty, I always felt that detox via methadone should have a time limit .

Thanks bumpsoon

More information on treatment and recovery models here if people are interested:

www.nta.nhs.uk/options.aspx

bumpsoon I think alcohol dependent clients are in many ways much harder to work with than those who are addicted to drugs.

Hang on, I never said that alcoholics should be taken off benefits and made to work, so why in earth would I say about anorexics?

I object to it being a medical condition that can entitle someone to certain benefits, which are a higher amount than other benefits.

I do feel that longterm illnesses and disabilities incur extra hidden costs and that benefits should reflect that, but with alcholism, the extra cost is alcohol.

I don't believe alcoholics are claiming incapacity benefit anyway it's all a lie, those who drink are convinced they don't have a problem they hold down jobs and would never say they have a problem as they can handle it, other people just don't understand because they are not special and can't take their drink like they can etc.

Anyone claiming incapacity benefit for booze has other issues at work.

I don't believe alcoholics are claiming incapacity benefit anyway

Of course some of them are.

those who drink are convinced they don't have a problem

Some are convinced of that, yes. Others are asking for help and pleading to be referred to detox programmes.

Ryoko - they're holding down jobs are they??? Come and see the ones with life threatening gastric bleeds and psychosis on a hospital ward.

I'm sorry but I really want to say this. Don't think I've ever seen a more ignorant post on mumsnet.

Pffft to you, I managed to complete college courses and sign on the dole for years without anyone realising what I was up to.

only reason I stopped was because I ran out of money and had to spend time sitting in the bathroom at my mums, shaking for awhile.

You get used to it slowly so it doesn't affect your day to day workings as a human being, you just end up seeing ghosts dancing on the celing when you lay in bed at night and keep ending up in A+E for being paralytic, next day your back on again doing what you do. (which in my case was half a bottle of Absolut, 2 tennents super, 1 dragon stout and 8 becks a day).

No one had a clue outside of my despairing mother.

But surely you can see there are those that are further down the line - who can't hold down a job. That's all I'm saying - I think they deserve help. I really thought you were saying that they didn't.