Here’s an excellent op-ed on the politics of drug addiction, by Alex Wodak, published in the Guardian. The author, Dr Alex Wodak is president of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation and he argues had the Australian government consulted experts before unveiling their plan to drug test welfare recipients, they would have been advised to drop it, pronto.
This article brings into stark contrast conservative and liberal politics related to drug addiction. Both sides have their arguments and experts.
Conservative, tax-paying voters in many Western countries are tired of paying into welfare schemes that support the scroungers and cheats of the welfare system. People who take drugs regularly or who are addicted to alcohol are not properly motivated to get a job and pay their way in society.
Let me ask an open question:
Should governments in the US, the UK and Canada follow Australia’s example and drug test welfare recipients?
Thoughts?
Dr Alf's Blog 
The answer to Dr Alf’s question is no, the chances are almost a racing certainty that the long term unemployed plus a good number of young people are already on drugs and drinking too much to boot.
What needs to be done is stopping the pretence that there are enough conventional jobs the unemployed can do and looking at how the situation can be turned around.
Second, a look at how drugs get into the country, given that the UK is an island with 7000 miles of coastline and 6 major ports, needs to be undertaken by someone other than the police whose efforts are ineffective and frankly a joke.
Currently, not one major criminal gang anywhere in the world has ownership of containerships, large cargo planes or fleets of lorries capable of transporting containers, so experts in logistics need to consider how, for example, poppy crops from Afghanistan find their way onto the streets of major UK cities and towns?
Demand for drugs and alcohol is high in the UK and it is rising.
If people lack hope, self confidence, personal discipline or an enabling personal philosophy they will not be able to cope with life and will seek solace in drink, drugs and antidepressant medicine.
These things are directly traceable to a failing education system propounding nonsense and the idea that their is a “free lunch”, a failure to teach proper values by feckless and indifferent parents and a failure by religious leaders to do their jobs.
The problem of indiscipline is made worse by lack of national service for youngsters leaving school before they go into work or higher education and this in turn feeds the military recruitment crisis.
Lack of self discipline and any pretence at setting an example fills the UK,s boss class with the idea that “because we are worth it” they can pay themselves what they like,deliver next to no sales,exports or shareholder value yet continue to “wet their beaks”.
It should be a case of do as I do but instead people get the message that non delivery, laziness, chillaxing and doing whatever you feel like is ok.
The result is a rootless, aimless and feckless approach to life where anything goes and any minor feelings of depression, boredom and dissatisfaction must be rewarded with alcohol, drugs and mindless pursuits the latest manifestation of which is the “fidget spinner”.
Those who are practically minded and whose jobs can be automated out of existence or undertaken by robots need to be mentored into simple craft based businesses not be encouraged to study for useless degrees leading nowhere.
Once up and running the tax system should be encouraging them to engage in traditional marriage rather than live alone or harbour thoughts of “gender neutrality”.
If this is not possible then those of different “orientation” need to be mentored into self employment and stable relationships.
With meaningful work,greater stability and purpose people would not take drugs,drown their sorrows in drink and they would be useful contributors to the country rather than burdens on the taxpayer.