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.

And those further down the line don't sit on the bathroom floor shaking while they go cold turkey: they can fit and die. A rattle off drugs won't kill you however unpleasant it is. A rattle off alcohol can and often does.

All I'm saying is no one thinks they are an addict and goes and says I need incapacity benefit for being an addict unless there are other things at play as an addict never thinks they are.

Really going CT can kill you? I'd inform my mother of that fact, but she probably wouldn't care all things considered.

an addict never thinks they are

That might be your reality. I'm working with drinkers who recognise their addiction and are desperate to get into treatment.

And yes: suddenly stopping drinking if you are dependent can be fatal.

I agree with the OP. Also, tories are B*tards.

Couldn't agree with you more about untreated mental illness, StuckInTheMiddleWithYou and annielouisa . The government couldn't care less & won't fund health services . IME most people with alcohol / drug addictions can't get treatment for either MH or addiction as MH services refuse to treat an addict and the person's untreated MH problem is causing / mantaining the dependency .

"Really going CT can kill you?"

Yes, withdrawal from alcohol can cause seizures, and also from certain drugs - mostly prescription ones: valium withdrawal is very dangerous for example.

www.leftfootforward.org/2011/04/right-wing-hate-campaign-clouds-debate-on-benefits/

Here is an interesting article.

It states that only the first ailment that a person lists on their claim form is taken into account in these figures. So a person claiming for alchoholism might also have liver disease or some other unrelated disability.

MotherSnacker thats the point I was trying to make earlier on. People dont seem to realise Dr picks which one to put on the form.

Yes withdrawal can kill, most commonly in alcohol when a person gets DT's, also heroin. Basically anything that is a major depressant, if you "dull down" the body and brain functions for long periods, then stop suddenly, everything goes into overdrive and hyperactivity, and can cause fits and death.

Yes Darth - you mustnt stop taking it suddenly. It would depend on how much you were taking. If you had it for 'emergencies' it would be not too bad but if you were taking it everyday its dangerous to stop.
Your GP would know this.

I always worry I am going to get told 'no more' because they hate giving it out. Its the only thing that works for me and I manage it very well.

Its the Devil's Drug now apparently.

could you not ask to be put on tamazapam instead of valium?

Tamazepam wouldnt be much batter. Same as diazepam and other benzo's, all have quite addictive properties. Should say though you are much less likely to die or be seriously ill from stopping them than alcohol, but you should never stop abruptly.

Your Dr should know all this and reduce you gradually. It depends what you were given them for origonally, and how long you have taken them for.

In my experience, people have to hit rock bottom before they acknowledge they have a problem and address it. In upping benefits we are enabling addicts we are either postponing their recovery or bringing forward their death. Most people at AA meetings have got to such a low state of existance that the only way is up.

"really about the valium? I've been on it 5 years. The GP has said no more prescriptions. Abruptly."

Yes. It can be addictive if taken for more than a few weeks.

If you have been taking it daily and your Dr says you should stop immediately, s/he is wrong. You need to come off it gradually AFAIK.