Problem Drug Users' Experiences of Employment and the Benefit System
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503716_DWP_Cover_640.qxp 08/03/2010 14:28 Page 1 Research Report This report presents the findings of a study commissioned by the Department for Work DWP Research Report No. 640 and Pensions (DWP) to examine the issues surrounding employment and benefit uptake in England by individuals who use illicit drugs, in particular heroin and crack cocaine. In addressing these issues, the study also explores the wider context of education, training, drug use and treatment. This report has two key elements: a review of the literature on drug use and benefit uptake, and a qualitative component that included face-to-face interviews with 75 drug users and ten professionals who work with drug users to explore specific issues in detail. The research was carried out by a team from the Centre for Drug Misuse Research at the University of Glasgow and the Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy at the University of Bath. Pr oblem drug users' experiences of employment and the benefit system If you would like to know more about DWP research, please contact: Problem drug users' Paul Noakes, Commercial Support and Knowledge Management Team, experiences of employment 3rd Floor, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London SW1H 9NA http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rrs-index.asp and the benefit system by Linda Bauld, Gordon Hay, Jennifer McKell and Colin Carroll Research Report No. 640 ISBN 978 1 84712 729 7 Department for Work and Pensions Research Report No 640 Problem drug users’ experiences of employment and the benefit system Linda Bauld, Gordon Hay, Jennifer McKell and Colin Carroll A report of research carried out by the University of Bath and the University of Glasgow on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions © Crown Copyright 2010. Published for the Department for Work and Pensions under licence from the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Application for reproduction should be made in writing to The Copyright Unit, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ. First Published 2010. ISBN 978 1 84712 729 7 Views expressed in this report are not necessarily those of the Department for Work and Pensions or any other Government Department. Contents iii Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................... vii The Authors .....................................................................................................viii Abbreviations .................................................................................................... ix Summary ...........................................................................................................1 1 Introduction .................................................................................................9 1.1 Aims ................................................................................................10 1.2 Methods ..........................................................................................10 1.2.1 Literature review methods .................................................11 1.2.2 Interview methods ............................................................13 2 Literature review ........................................................................................17 2.1 Characteristics of problem drug users .............................................17 2.1.1 Demographic characteristics .............................................18 2.1.2 Physical health problems ...................................................19 2.1.3 Problems accessing health care .........................................19 2.1.4 Homelessness ....................................................................20 2.1.5 Care leavers .......................................................................21 2.2 Mental health and drug misuse ........................................................21 2.2.1 Prevalence and nature of mental health problems among drug users ........................................................................22 2.2.2 Treatment for drug misuse and mental health problems ....23 2.2.3 Mental health problems and employment ........................24 iv Contents 2.3 Crime ..............................................................................................25 2.3.1 Crime and drug use ...........................................................25 2.3.2 Type of drug use and crime ...............................................26 2.3.3 Drug treatment and crime .................................................27 2.3.4 Drug treatment, crime and employment ............................27 2.4 Treatment of drug misuse ................................................................28 2.4.1 Treatment outcomes .........................................................28 2.5 Drug use, employment and unemployment .....................................29 2.6 Employability ...................................................................................32 2.6.1 Barriers to employment .....................................................32 2.6.2 The impact of drug misuse treatment on employment .......35 2.6.3 Facilitating the employment of drug users .........................36 2.7 Interaction with the benefits system .................................................38 2.7.1 The extent to which drug users access benefits ..................38 2.7.2 The relationship between drug use and welfare dependency ..................................................40 2.8 Welfare reform ...............................................................................42 3 Client interview findings ............................................................................45 3.1 Characteristics and background .......................................................45 3.1.1 Client characteristics ..........................................................47 3.1.2 Education ..........................................................................49 3.1.3 Employment history...........................................................52 3.1.4 Drug use history ................................................................55 3.2 The benefit system and Jobcentre Plus .............................................60 3.2.1 Claiming and receiving benefit ..........................................61 3.2.2 Barriers to benefit uptake ..................................................67 3.2.3 Looking for employment through Jobcentre Plus ...............72 Contents v 3.3 Employment and future aspirations ..................................................75 3.3.1 Barriers to employment .....................................................76 3.3.2 Informal economy .............................................................81 3.3.3 Future aspirations ..............................................................82 4 Professional interview findings ...................................................................87 4.1 Characteristics of PDUs ....................................................................89 4.2 The benefit system ...........................................................................91 4.2.1 Benefit receipt and drug use ..............................................91 4.2.2 Which benefits PDUs access ..............................................92 4.2.3 Barriers to benefit uptake ..................................................93 4.3 Treatment ........................................................................................95 4.4 Employment ....................................................................................96 4.4.1 Employment opportunities ................................................96 4.4.2 Barriers to employment .....................................................97 4.4.3 Facilitators to employment ................................................99 4.5 Partnership working .......................................................................101 5 Conclusion ...............................................................................................103 5.1 The profile of problem drug users ..................................................103 5.2 PDUs and the benefit system .........................................................105 5.3 The transition from benefits to employment ..................................106 5.4 Welfare reform ..............................................................................107 5.5 Summary .......................................................................................108 Appendix Interview topic guides ...............................................................109 References .....................................................................................................113 Acknowledgements vii Acknowledgements This study was funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The views expressed are those of the research team and not necessarily those of the DWP. The authors wish to thank Lilian Wright, Jane Casey and Maria Gannon from the Centre for Drug Misuse at the University of Glasgow for assistance with the research, Valerie Evans and Rachel Grahame for interview transcribing and to Cathy Flower from the University of Bath who assisted with preparation of the final report. Thanks also to Margaret Hersee, Vicki Brown and Mary Curran from the DWP for their input into commissioning and their support for the research. Finally, our thanks to Drug Action Team staff in the five study areas and to the clients and professionals who took part in the study. viii The Authors