Netherlands: Alcoholics paid in beer to clean streeths, program is very successful - Polidicks

[QUOTE]Alcoholics are being paid in beer to clean the streets of Amsterdam as part of a project partly funded by the Dutch government - the organisers think other countries should abandon "old-fashioned political correctness" and adopt the same approach. [...] He [Rene] is one of 20 alcoholics who have joined this initiative. They arrive at 09:00 and work until 15:00. They take extended breaks for beer, cigarettes and a hot lunch, all provided free of charge.[...] "It's quite difficult to get these people off the alcohol completely. We have tried everything else. Now this is the only thing that works. We might not make them better, but we are giving them a better quality of life and it's better for the neighbourhood, they're giving something back to society." [...] Since the street-cleaning programme started 12 months ago, local police have received fewer reports of stabbings and muggings in the park. And all of the residents we spoke to said they were happy with the government supporting this unconventional approach.[...] Instead of being ostracised by society, the alcoholics' needs appear to have been incorporated into the Dutch healthcare system. Floor van Bakkum of Amsterdam's Jellinek anti-addiction clinic says the project is a good way to deal with "a very problematic group - it's kind of harm reduction". She likened it to giving carefully monitored methadone or heroin doses to chronic heroin addicts. "It might help them to do something else with their life. You always have to monitor such a project, so it shouldn't attract new alcoholics - it's not an open invitation to drink in Oosterpark." She said such a scheme would be inappropriate for alcoholics who still live at home and have a job.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-25548061[/url]

Giving these people a sense of purpose and communal responsibility is a small step towards rehabilitating them, so if it works it works I guess. As long as there is a limit to the amount of alcohol they receive.

Unsure how to feel about this, i feel like it could ultimately be detrimental to the wellbeing of the alcoholics due to the government compounding their addiction as opposed to trying to help them quit it.

Reliable and controlled way of getting alcohol to them, means you can slowly start getting them off the addiction. Might seem crazy in theory but it actually works.

[QUOTE=Kirrimir;44569113]Unsure how to feel about this, i feel like it could ultimately be detrimental to the wellbeing of the alcoholics due to the government compounding their addiction as opposed to trying to help them quit it.[/QUOTE] Usually they buy liquor. This is a regulated way of spreading out and limiting their alcoholic intake. They're not drunk, they drink less, it's easier to get them off the habit.

[QUOTE=Kirrimir;44569113]Unsure how to feel about this, i feel like it could ultimately be detrimental to the wellbeing of the alcoholics due to the government compounding their addiction as opposed to trying to help them quit it.[/QUOTE] It gets shit done and nobody is complaining, so it's good enough for me

Well after all, slowing down is easier then abruptly stopping.

Pretty nice deal, but why not just pay them the same amount in money? Wouldn't it serve them better, since they then have the option of using less of their pay to acquire alcohol if they feel like weaning themselves of their addiction?

[QUOTE=Im Crimson;44569449]if they feel like weaning themselves of their addiction?[/QUOTE] They don't, that's the very reason they're in this program.

[QUOTE=Im Crimson;44569449]Pretty nice deal, but why not just pay them the same amount in money? Wouldn't it serve them better, since they then have the option of using less of their pay to acquire alcohol if they feel like weaning themselves of their addiction?[/QUOTE] Because for the money they can buy much stronger alcohols.

I hope they give them some sort of payment beyond alcohol, cigarettes and booze for their work.

[QUOTE=Lonestriper;44569939]I hope they give them some sort of payment beyond alcohol, cigarettes and booze for their work.[/QUOTE] How about Ketracel-white.

Wow...that's sad.