U.S. Charity Pays U.K. Addict to Have Vasectomy

By: Tucker Reals
Topics: In The News ,; World Watch

(CBS/AP) An American charity has paid a British man addicted to drugs 200 pounds (about $320) to get a vasectomy, the BBC reported Project Prevention."

The charity was started by a North Carolina woman who says seeing the affects of drug addiction on children angered her into taking a stand.

Barbara Harris and her organization have already paid more than 3,500 addicts in America to be sterilized, but her foray into Great Britain is causing fresh controversy.

Monday. The man, identified only as "John," was the first U.K. participant in the controversial bribery program offered by "

U.S. Addicts Paid to Get Birth Control

According to the mission statement on their website, "Project Prevention offers cash incentives to women and men addicted to drugs and/or alcohol to use long term or permanent birth control."

The initiative has brought Harris, who started the organization after adopting children born to a woman addicted to crack cocaine, huge criticism -- even comparisons to the Nazi regime.

Other addiction advocacy groups have railed against the extreme nature of Harris' program, accusing her of taking advantage of people with a medically diagnosed illness.

"It exploits very vulnerable people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol at probably the lowest point in their lives," Simon Antrobus, chief executive of Addaction, told the BBC.

"I think Barbara uses some very extreme examples to get her point across. It might work in America but Great Britain is a very different country," said Maria Cripps, who runs a center for addicts in east London.

John, however, said a vasectomy had been on his mind for some time before he accepted the 200 pound bribe from Project Prevention.

"I won't be able to support a kid; I can just about manage to support myself," he told the BBC, adding that he "should never be a father."

John, 38, said he would use the money to help pay his rent and to buy some groceries.

Tucker Reals
Tucker Reals is a senior news editor and overnight site editor for CBSNews.com, based at CBS News' London bureau.

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by butterman-b October 19, 2010 1:10 PM EDT: I too know a women who is "addicted". she has had 8 children and every time she wants free medical care and a new apartment from the state, she gets pregnant again! She collects cash for about year during which she has the baby, gives it up (not without a fight because that pays too) and then goes back to her old lifestyle. The only thing she really addicted to is being a heartless jerk. But as long as the state plays the game she will too.; Reply to this comment


by linfinster October 18, 2010 6:10 PM EDT: So why isn't there an address for contributions listed?? A Website for donations? Where can I give money to this wonderful organization?; Reply to this comment


by picfxr October 18, 2010 1:53 PM EDT: It's amazing how knee-jerk the reaction is to the potential loss of fertility. People seem to be so afraid for this right but give no consideration to the rights of the children who suffer when fertility is not monitored to people who should never be parents. The program offers money for long-term vs permanent safeguards as well. I think if we put more money into finding better semi-permanent but removable fertility guards this would be a better world for everyone. People will have sex no matter if they are ready for the potential consequences or not. If we could offer them a safer alternative than the ones we have now for an affordable price they would use it. And the people who have the most unwanted pregnancies would be first in line by choice. Then with less overpopulation and fostered children with high needs there would be more money to help people beat their addictions...and to pay for the necessary drug deterrents in our neighborhoods..like community watches and community centers with alternate activities for teens...more police patrols and security.; Reply to this comment


by hdc77494 October 18, 2010 1:14 PM EDT: As a foster parent I get information about children needing homes all the time. I personally know two mothers battling drug addiction, who between them have had nineteen children. Sadly they have custody of none, and both are pregnant again. Any kind of voluntary program offering permanent birth control could radically change our child welfare system.
Think of the resources that could be reallocated if we could reduce the number of children in foster care, in the juvenile justice system, in our prisons, and on our welfare rolls. There are over two hundred fifty thousand children currently in foster care in the United States, and a large percentage of them come from homes dealing with drug abuse.
While I strongly reject any sort of forced sterilization, offering large cash incentives to those desiring birth control or sterilization could have a dramatic impact on poverty.; Reply to this comment


by ccdsswrkr08 October 18, 2010 12:56 PM EDT: And, if you were to look a little more into the story, she not only offers the money for sterelization, but also for long term birth control like vaginal inserts and the under the skin treatment. Giving these women a chance to work on their addiction before they have children instead of BECAUSE they have children.; Reply to this comment


by ccdsswrkr08 October 18, 2010 12:44 PM EDT: Who is she taking advantage of again? Is she taking advantage of the same person who would sell their kids for another hit? I think not. All you have to do is work with this population and their children to know, reproduction for them is NOT a good idea!; Reply to this comment


by TheKnowerseeker October 18, 2010 11:24 AM EDT: My knee-jerk reaction to this story was "This is terrible!", but then I thought about it a bit, and I think it's a good idea.; Reply to this comment

by tsigili October 18, 2010 10:04 AM EDT

Charity, is not the "good" word that most people think of. Many charities do not use the monies well, and indeed, most major charities are run by execs making huge salaries.

Many others, simply take American monies, and waste them, in third world countries, where they accomplish little, while the needy in the US go without help.

The best charity, is direct.....neighbor to neighbor.

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by hdc77494 October 18, 2010 1:20 PM EDT: Neighbor to neighbor works until the neighbor tires of helping those that will not help themselves and continually make Bad choices or pop out more babies they can't take of. If your neighbor asks for a cup of sugar every day for a month, you will eventually say no. Worse, if you had to go check your neighbor's pantry every day and restock it, you'd eventually get tired of doing it for them and they might starve because they are more concerned with finding their next fix. Many times I've offered cash to a homeless man, only to watch him spend it on a beer.


by presjfk October 18, 2010 9:42 AM EDT: Addicts should lose their rights to bear children but its all the better done in a voluntary manner. It hardly an answer to the population explosion but it will reduce suffering and save money.; Reply to this comment


by smitvict October 18, 2010 8:54 AM EDT: It's a great idea. People who cannot support and give a loving home to children should not have children and expect society to support them.; Reply to this comment