Sterilization. At last a good news story.

LarrytheLantern

A drug addict has become the first man in Britain to be sterilised in exchange for cash under a controversial new project.

The man, known as John, who has been addicted to heroin for 15 years, was given £200 (€230) by an American charity in return for having a vasectomy.

Project Prevention, the charity running the scheme, has made similar payments to thousands of men and women in America in a crusade to prevent them having children who may inherit their addictions.

The 38-year-old man said he had been involved with drugs since the age of 11 or 12 and that the offer of money had "spurred" him into having the operation.

He said: "It was kind of what spurred me into doing it in a way.

"It was something that I'd been thinking about for a long time and something that I'd already made my mind up that I wanted to do. Just hadn't got around to it."

The charity began offering the cash incentive to British addicts after paying 3,500 American men and women addicted to drugs or alcohol to be sterilised.

John said he was given 30 days to make a decision after calling the charity's helpline, and had the operation on the NHS in September.

He told BBC London's Inside Out, to be screened on Monday night: "It came as a bit of a shock to me knowing I was the first in Britain.

"I would have thought people would be snapping up the offer as soon as it came apparent as it was there.

"I won't be able to support a kid. I can just about manage to support myself. Just about got it together to do that."

The woman behind the project, Barbara Harris, from North Carolina, said she set up the charity after adopting four children whose mother was addicted to crack.

She said: "I got very angry about the damage that these drugs do to these children.

"It was unbelievable. Isaiah could not sleep, he couldn't eat, his eyes were big, noise bothered him, light bothered him. It broke my heart."

But the scheme has attracted criticism from people who feel the charity is exploiting vulnerable people and led to accusations of social engineering.

Ms Harris added: "I've been called everything. I've been spat on.

"Typically I just say to my critics: 'If you believe these women should continue to take drugs and have children, then step up in line and adopt their babies'. It's that simple."

But the scheme has met criticism from addiction charities.

A spokesman for Addaction, the drug and alcohol treatment charity, said: "Addaction firmly believes there is no place for Project Prevention in the UK because their practices are morally reprehensible and irrelevant.

"Sex education and contraceptive advice is part of drug treatment work in this country. Women who use drugs can access all types of contraception free on the NHS including a number of long term options."

The project also pays addicts to get long-term birth control including intrauterine contraceptive devices or a contraceptive implant.

- BBC London Inside Out investigation will air on Monday at 1930 on BBC One.


- Nick Collins

© Telegraph.co.uk

KeithM89_old

I wonder what he spent that £200 on

Joey the lips

KeithM89 wrote: »

I wonder what he spent that £200 on

Condoms...

fonecrusher1

Good oul John.

Dravokivich

De ja two?

Gummy Panda

Can you pretend to be a junkiee to get a cheap snip op?

Princess Peach

Dravokivich wrote: »

De ja two?

Owned!

Pace2008

I find the knowledge that people would consider a story of someone so hopelessly addicted to drugs they're willing to sterlise themselves for half a week's pay as "good" kinda disturbing.

LarrytheLantern

Pace2008 wrote: »

I find the knowledge that people would consider a story of someone so hopelessly addicted to drugs they're willing to sterlise themselves for half a week's pay as "good" kinda disturbing.

i find it disturbing that we allow these types to procreate.

"a snip in time .............":)

Dravokivich

LarrytheLantern wrote: »

i find it disturbing that we allow these types to procreate.

"a snip in time .............":)

It's not genetic is it?

orourkeda

Pace2008 wrote: »

I find the knowledge that people would consider a story of someone so hopelessly addicted to drugs they're willing to sterlise themselves for half a week's pay as "good" kinda disturbing.

True enough. Personally, I'd have been mildly entertained if he was burned or horsewhipped or such like.

Odysseus

Well there is the argument that we having been doing this for years over here, without the cash payment. The addiction services provide lots of free condoms to all our clients, we used to also offer the depo injection, but that has been stopped in the past year due to cut backs.

Though to be honest, I find it very sad that someone who do that for £200, and a lot of my clients both sexes work the street so I'm far from a bleeding heart. The biggest thing for me though would be the ethics in this, who will we pay next? Where will it stop? I see the results of neglected kids everyday in work, social services too back up to make basic intervention etc.[Everytime I see a new born infant in the clinic I congratulate the parents, then add "look after him/her they are harder to keep than to get"] However, I don't think this is the way forward.

partyatmygaff

Good news story?

More saddening than good tbh.

Teutorix

Dravokivich wrote: »

It's not genetic is it?

No but its learned behaviour, and junkies can raise kids, its immoral.

LarrytheLantern

Dravokivich wrote: »

It's not genetic is it?

John Wayne once said.

"nits turn into lice!":D

TheRealPONeil

Pace2008 wrote: »

I find the knowledge that people would consider a story of someone so hopelessly addicted to drugs they're willing to sterlise themselves for half a week's pay as "good" kinda disturbing.

Well, there may be another payday

Alberta Government Sued by Eugenics Program Victim

silverspoon

I don't know why but the thought of someone being essentially bribed to get sterilised isn't sitting very well with me. I would be interested in seeing perhaps facilities by which a person in that situation might be enabled to make that decision for themselves without any impediment by way of money/aftercare/etc.

I'm not a bleeding heart or anything, but on a whole range of levels this idea is weird.
One problem: as mentioned above - what is a junkie with £200 going to do? He's not getting himself a four-course meal anyway, he'll move straight to the dessert (spoon).
Another problem: Who supports a charity with the goal of 'let's pay junkies to get the snip?' No thanks, I think I might support something that involves not giving drug addicts stupid money.

Now, I have no interest in promoting the conception of children who will be born into sh!t homes, with addictions and useless parents, but surely there's a better method of preventing unfit parents from becoming parents in the first place than giving them what is effectively £200 worth of drugs in exchange for a working d!ck. Fcuk sake.

Dudess

I find it so sinister - like something out of a scary futuristic novel...

scientific1982

A bit too naziesque for my liking.

Jesus Wept

It's a sad situation undoubtedly.
But, I look at it like this: If someone is willing to sterilise themselves for £200, then they are not likely to have the will power to ensure they don't bring a child into the world in their current circumstances, something imo which must be avoided.

K-9

The-Rigger wrote: »

It's a sad situation undoubtedly.
But, I look at it like this: If someone is willing to sterilise themselves for £200, then they are not likely to have the will power to ensure they don't bring a child into the world in their current circumstances, something imo which must be avoided.

I think that is the point here.

How could you trust them to bring up a baby in that environment?

The state either provides the mother with proper treatment and care, or sh*t like this happens.

No matter how idealistic a society you have, tough case like this are going to happen. Babies likes this should be brought into care but that isn't going to happen.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Think its a great idea.

Vasectomy is reversible if they ever sort themselves out. For women they should give them that injection that stops them getting pregnant for a few years. Tube tying is a bit more complicated to reverse and a more sever operation in general

senordingdong

The-Rigger wrote: »

It's a sad situation undoubtedly.
But, I look at it like this: If someone is willing to sterilise themselves for £200, then they are not likely to have the will power to ensure they don't bring a child into the world in their current circumstances, something imo which must be avoided.

I don't think it's sad...I think it's too little too late.

mahamageehad

I don't know I can see why this is a good idea but again as said before it doesn't sit well with me. What next giving lower income families a car for sterilisation?? Line up the long term dolers and offer it to them for an extra weeks pay..??

Hail 2 Da Chimp

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Think its a great idea.

Vasectomy is reversible if they ever sort themselves out. For women they should give them that injection that stops them getting pregnant for a few years.

From what I know women are already given the depo injection as part of their treatment, which lasts 3 months.
For men, I do think it's a good idea, as long as their is an opt out clause. Where the charity pays for the procedure to be reversed, whether the person is clean or not.

But as Dudess says, it is pretty sinister...

up for anything

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Think its a great idea.

Vasectomy is reversible if they ever sort themselves out. For women they should give them that injection that stops them getting pregnant for a few years. Tube tying is a bit more complicated to reverse and a more sever operation in general

You're speaking like there is a 100% success rate in both types of reversal. There isn't. Far from it.

Tubal Ligation Reversal

Vasectomy Reversal


It makes my flesh crawl to think that someday I could be in a position where I make a life changing decision because I am offered what seems like easy money. Christmas is only a couple of months away and already I'm having sleepless nights about how to arrange Santa. Another month and I'll be desperate and distraught. Kidney anyone?

senordingdong

mahamageehad wrote: »

I don't know I can see why this is a good idea but again as said before it doesn't sit well with me. What next giving lower income families a car for sterilisation?? Line up the long term dolers and offer it to them for an extra weeks pay..??

That depends...are this low income family likely to be bad parents and breed crime?
Or are the low income family going to work hard and do a good job raising their children?

up for anything wrote:

Christmas is only a couple of months away and already I'm having sleepless nights about how to arrange Santa. Another month and I'll be desperate and distraught. Kidney anyone?

Oh come on now...this is not aimed at people who are living on a tight budget, this is aimed at people live (possibly homelessly) on a heroin budget.

squeakyduck

I saw this story on another forum yesterday. I think it's a good idea, 200 is a tiny bit to pay to save a poor child being born into drug abuse, poverty and sadness.

Bottle_of_Smoke

up for anything wrote: »

You're speaking like there is a 100% success rate in both types of reversal. There isn't. Far from it.

Tubal Ligation Reversal

Vasectomy Reversal


It makes my flesh crawl to think that someday I could be in a position where I make a life changing decision because I am offered what seems like easy money. Christmas is only a couple of months away and already I'm having sleepless nights about how to arrange Santa. Another month and I'll be desperate and distraught. Kidney anyone?

Well as I said I don't think they should tie tubes for women, instead have longer term hormonal options.

If a male version of that came about I'd be in preference of it too. However for now I am aware of vaesectomy risks but do not feel they outweigh the risk of a junkie conceiving a child

rugbug86

Dravokivich wrote: »

It's not genetic is it?

No, it's not genetic as such, but a pregnant woman who is injecting heroin can pass this heroin through to the child, thus the child is born with the addiction. Preventing women getting pregnant can stop this.

up for anything

senordingdong wrote: »

Oh come on now...this is not aimed at people who are living on a tight budget, this is aimed at people live (possibly homelessly) on a heroin budget.

At the moment it is. Ideas like this grow legs though. Today - junkies, tomorrow - anybody who doesn't meet with somebody else's idea of proper living! Where does something like this stop? Who is going to draw the line?

People who shouldn't breed

Junkies
Alcoholics
Serial murderers
Nicotine addicts
Homeless people
People on social welfare
Low income people
People who get less than 2 honours in their LC
Unemployed people

For my money I would offer all the people who have drunken, unprotected sex, money to be sterilised. If they are that stupid they shouldn't be passing on their genes. Seriously.