USA: Paying drug addicts to get sterilised

In the USA a non-profit fund, supported by donations, offers $300 to female drug addicts for the purpose of sterilisation. The woman who runs the scheme, set up in 1997, has attracted a lot of flack - and support. So far the scheme has donated to 3,242 addicts.

If you call Project Prevention's helpline it's likely that Barbara Harris, the founder of this US based organisation, will answer the phone. A warm and vivacious grandmother, her aim is to give $300 to as many drug and alcohol addicted women as possible. The deal? That they receive long term contraception or sterilisation to prevent them having children she believes they are unable or unwilling to care for.