Duncan McNeil, a Labour MSP in Scotland recently suggested putting contraceptives in methadone treatments as a way to curb the problem of looking after the children of drug addicts there.

While the suggestion may be a fairly extreme measure, it has sparked a lot of debate in the UK concerning possible “tough love” measures for drug addicts.

For example, Jack McConnell, another Labour MP, has proposed introducing “contracts” for drug addicts who wanted to receive state-funded aid with their addiction. The conracts would stipulate that the addict was not allowed to have children and in return their treatment would be funded. The contract would set out their obligations and a range of disincentives for violating those obligations.

These and simliar proposals have sparked a chorus of outrage from liberals and libertarians alike who see these proposals as the state overstepping the mark in where they can and should intervene. One association in Scotland even likened the proposal to genocide.

One thing that everyone seems to agree on though, is that Scotland needs to do something soon. With 60,000 children of addicts in Scotland and a massive population of hard drug users that outstrips neighbouring countries by almost a factor of 2 to 1, the impetus to find a solution is significant.