Yes, you read that right. In the UK, a measure is currently being proposed that would reward drug addicts for staying clean by offering them prizes and shopping vouchers. The plan was recently unveiled by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), who believes that the incentives would be cost effective.

Under the plan, an estimated 50,000 people could be rewarded for trying to quit their drug habit. They would receive prizes and vouchers for providing drug-free urine samples, with the size of the prizes increasing with the amount of time spent drug-gree.

The proposal is upsetting many, as just months ago the NICE denied coverage for Alzheimer's disease treatments and life-prolonging cancer drugs. The fact that they would want to buy iPods for drug addicts has many angered. Drug workers have described the proposals and "ridiculous". They also warned that it could lead to the addicts trading prizes and vouchers to feed their drug habits. As well, many fear that addicts might be able to easily cheat on the drug tests.

NICE believes the proposals are a logical and cost effective way to tackle drug abuse, and have estimated that for every pound spent on treating drug addicts, £9.50 is saved on health and crime costs.

The proposal has gone out for consultation before it will be implemented, so it may not actually go through. But, there is also the chance that it will go into effect this summer. We'll just have to wait to find out what is decided.