The influence of neo-liberal policy and thinking on health and welfare provision for drug users in the UK (original) (raw)
Over the last three decades there have been radical changes in social, health and welfare service provision in the United Kingdom that have been attributed to the influence of neo-liberalism on social policy and practice. These include measures to improve efficiency and cut costs through reducing public sector involvement in health and welfare; creating a competitive market amongst statutory and non-statutory service providers; a move to a more responsive ‘consumer led’ or ‘demand driven’ system of health and welfare provision and a promotion of the ethos of individual responsibility. This study will look at the effect of neo-liberal policy and thinking on the provision of health and welfare services with particular reference to drug users. It will begin with a brief description of the historical basis of neo-liberalism, and an overview of its core principles. There will then follow a critical discussion of the effects this has on the provision of health and welfare services in this country, how its influence has affected historical and contemporary British Drug Policy and what the implications of this are for problematic drug users.
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