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Has anyone watched the TV programme or read Monty Don's book about this scheme to get drug addicts into organic gardening and thus help them overcome their problems?  I've only heard about it recently but it certainly sounds like an interesting idea. 

For those of you you haven't heard about it there is some information about it here:  http://www.themontyproject.com/

G x

r least the guy seems to be making an effort to help somebody. That's more than you can say for a lot of these pathetic 'celebrities'.

I agree Robert he does seem to be trying to actually do something but from the couple of programmes I've seen he does seem to have taken on a rather hopless task.  I find it really sad - they could be my kids.

I watched this series with interest and I hoped it would have some success for those taking part.  I know myself how beneficial it can be to one's sanity in this crazy world to have contact with the seasons and with growing things. I was not surprised to find that not all those taking part were helped in any meaningful way by the process.  Sadly, some people are too far gone to be helped and for others, there will be more meaningful triggers than Monty and his project.  But, all credit to him for giving it a go and, if it inspires others to come up with ideas that can engage even one or two seemingly lost souls then that would be great - they are all somebody's son or daughter.

it was a brilliant idea, Monty seemed to be on a losing battle with some but it definitely worked for a few, he's trying to get it countrywide so it's at least an ongoing project, I really worried about his sanity at a couple of points, especially with his history, but he seems to have benefitted as well, all power to his elbow, we need more like him  :)

The most chilling part of the prog was the interview with the Minister. Monty had done his sums and put a good case, and all he got in return was slippery-smooth evasiveness >:(
The prog showed slices of society that I don't confront daily - hostile village worthies, dogged Probation Service, narcissistic and manipulative people - warts and all. No room for sentiment. Glory be - one of the lads seemed to be making something of the project the last time I looked :)
Agree wholeheartedly with manic and autumn leaf - Monty was brave and inspired to put this together.

I've worked with enough addicts in my time; it often does seem hopeless, but if you can help a few people at least, then it's not wasted effort. It's going to need a lot more sensible input from government before we can make much impression on it though, unfortunately, and it's quite true, most of them are nasty slimy sods who couldn't care less.

Monty is a great guy who really cares. I don't think that all the kids he takes on will come out of it any different but the seeds have been sown, excuse the pun! for those who grow through their drug period, those who actually survive, I am sure that at some point in their lives they will value the lessons he has taught them. Well done Monty.

Waste of time and money.
And yes I know addiction is an illness well so is cancer yet some people can't get the legal life saving drugs they need because there is no money.I would rather give law abiding people the funding than the criminals.Not a politically correct view just my opinion.

I have three children, all been to uni, all brushed with 'soft drugs', my daughter is a nurse now, on intensive care, most of the people who come in are due to drugs, booze or smoking, they're all treated like people, just my opinion, these kids are all someone's child, sister, brother, friend, I wish there was more I could do.. :)

There's nothing new or unusual about drugs; anyone ever read de Quincey? Don't forget alcohol and tobacco; how many of the moralisers use those? Even when I was at school around 1970, about 30% of us were regular drug users. The main thing is to try to help people rather than making things even worse in the name of a high 'moral' stand.

there but for the grace of god, I tried weed in the 60's, it actually made me sick, I used to binge drink when I was 17, sorted myself out in the end but, I had a wonderful mum, family and a good job , some of these poor souls don't get the start I had  :(

Maybe it will snowball into other projects with experts helping in different ways, if it just gives one person a sound reason to get up in the morning and to learn a skill its got to be worthwhile, someone has to start somewhere, putting them inside doesn't seem to work and I'm fed up seeing lives go to waste and drug dealers profitting.

There needs to be a whole change in strategy; you won't help people solve their problems by criminalising them, you'll do it by helping them. Making heroin available to users, for instance, would stop a lot of crime, and help them get free from the dealers. Maybe this might start it, as long as it goes far enough to push a new strategy nationwide.

I've just finished reading the book, having seen a few of the programmes. The book gives a lot more insight into the people on the project, their lives and what they get out of it. I found it inspiring as well as shocking, and in terms of cost, he gives a lot of convincing statistics about the costs of imprisonment compared to the cost of projects like this. If you're interested, the message board on the website has details of other similar projects.

Thank you for all your replies.  I shall certainly be buying the book now based on the (mainly) positive comments voiced here.  Even if only one life was saved then it was worth it in my opinion.  And if it has been a catalyst for similar projects, so much the better.

G x

Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on January 01, 2007, 12:54:04
There needs to be a whole change in strategy; you won't help people solve their problems by criminalising them, you'll do it by helping them. Making heroin available to users, for instance, would stop a lot of crime, and help them get free from the dealers. Maybe this might start it, as long as it goes far enough to push a new strategy nationwide.

Methodone is available yet they still take heroin and making it freely available is a joke they would just move on to something with a bigger longer high such as crack cocaine shall we make that available and free aswell?? Where will it end? Who's paying for it?? The working taxpayer or the unemployed thieving scum? Make prisons harder with stricter drug controls and longer sentences then they can get clean instead at the moment the prisons are like holiday camps, the prisoners get compensation when they suffer cold turkey!!!

Methadone doesn't work. If they had heroin provided they wouldn't have to commit crime to get it, could be given clean needles so the NHS wouldn't end up with the cost of maintaining patients with HIV and hepatitis B, and at the same time they could be given help to move away from dependency. That's a lot better than crime and no help. Forcing peole onto cold turkey won't go anywhere because it doesn't address the reasons why they ended up on drugs in the first place. Only they can make the changes, but they probably need support while they do so. But it's no use arguing with closed minds. I've worked with drug users. Have you?

please can we agree that alcohol and smoking are drugs as well, my daughter treats more smoking and drink related illness than drug abuse, also, smoking can cause illness in other people, it's only my opinon again, but my mum died of smoking related cancer so, to me, these kids need help, not condemning  :)

I think Monty Don puts it well when he says that drug addiction is not a crime just as anorexia is not a crime. It's the thieving to finance it that is a crime. Silly Billy, yes they can get clean in prison (several of the addicts in this book did so) but there is no effective system set up to help them stay clean when they get out and go back to the same culture they were in before and face the pressure to use drugs again.