The ‘No need to beg’ campaign was launched by Newcastle City Council in 2015 in response to problem begging and the concern that people who beg are often fraudulent. The campaign emphasised the fact that most people begging have drug addictions and that money they receive often goes to fuel these. It received support for addressing the issues of addiction as well as backlash against its perceived stigmatising message.
Addiction can be a cause and a result of homelessness. Research shows that, of those experiencing homelessness, 48% of people have faced drug dependency and 46% alcohol dependency. However, the reasons why people develop addictions vary dramatically. Often addictions are the result of the stress of homelessness, traumatic life events, or mental health difficulties.