Drug Testing Welfare Recipients

Is it fair that in order to obtain a job, some people go through drug testing while drug and alcohol abusers receive free, no strings attached, financial assistance (see appendix A)? Food stamps and Medicaid are provided to low and no income Americans who would otherwise do without. According to heritage.org, a majority of the illegal drug use in American adults is tied to unemployed citizens. While there are many people who disagree with testing welfare recipients, the truth is that the pros greatly outweigh the cons. The long term improvements that drug testing will have on the country are substantial. The wellbeing and stability of America’s children, unemployment, fairness across the board for all Americans and the economy; all play

To test or not to test has been has been the question at hand for many states that are dealing with whether or not to pass the law that welfare recipients should or should not be drug tested in order to receive assistance from the government. Florida was the first state to mandate the law in 2011 and thereafter twenty four other states in the last year have also passed this law with our own state of Oklahoma being one of them. Although alcohol is legal it is abused far more than marijuana or hard core drugs, According to the 1996 study by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism the differences between the proportion of welfare and non-welfare recipients using illegal drugs are statistically insignificant. Although some states have decided to pass the law for welfare recipients in order receive government assistance, I believe it’s ineffective to drug test these welfare recipients in order to receive their benefits. Welfare in the United States commonly refers to the federal government welfare programs that have been put in place to assist the unemployed or underemployed. Help is extended to the poor through a variety of government welfare programs that include the Women, Infants, and Children Program which is referred to as WIC, Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families commonly known as TANF and Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

The article, “States Adding Drug Test as Hurdle for Welfare” stated that in three dozen sates proposed drug testing for the people that are on welfare. However, people say that the tax dollars given to them are not being misused and that it’s promoting stereotypes about the poor. the article says that in Florida, people that receive welfare have to pay for their own drug tests. Also, it says that people argued that it was unreasonable to drug test those on welfare and that it was an act of search and seizure. It’s noted that drug tests are getting more and more required for getting jobs. Ellen Brandom, a state representative in Missouri said, “Working people today work very hard to make ends meet, and it just doesn’t seem fair to them that

People collecting welfare should undergo drug testing to get the money the government is giving them, because it makes welfare applicants go down at least 48 percent, it also will help the national debt go down and help people with their drug problems. There are many benefits of drug testing welfare recipients.

Random drug testing welfare recipient has yet to become a law because the government is going back and forth over this issue and has yet to come to a conclusion if it is constitutional or not. There are issues about how to implement the process and how the American taxpayer are going to respond to this issue and to what end will it will come of it.

The money they receive for welfare is the money that is used to buy illegal drugs while they use the public’s tax money for food and shelter (“Point: The Welfare System Should Not support Drug Users “2). To receive welfare benefits, recipients should have to pass random drug tests. Passing a drug test or a drug screening would determine whether they still qualify for the benefit of welfare. (“Drug testing Issues Emerge as States Overhaul Welfare”2). If the recipients cannot pass a random drug test, then the benefits of Welfare should be taken away from them, at least until they can pass a drug test. They should be able to stay in the Welfare system for three months. If they can eventually pass a drug test in that three month period, then they should be able to get their benefits back. People who are welfare recipients can benefit from substance abuse programs (DiLascio, M. 1). “It will take months before many of the questions being raised about coverage for alcohol and drug abusers linkages to treatment programs, and other eligibility questions begin to be resolved, analysts say” (“Drug Testing issues emerge as States Overhaul Welfare” 1). In Florida, people in TANF program had to pay for their drug test in advance. If they passed, then they would get their money back (DiLascio, M.

In order to get a job nowadays, many companies require drug testing of their employees. If people out there cannot get a job because they’re on drugs, they shouldn’t be able to receive welfare. As Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, said, "The people that are working are paying the taxes for people on welfare. Shouldn't the welfare people be held to the same standard?" (politifact.com) Also, if applicants are required to pay for drug tests themselves, only to be reimbursed later when they pass, the government won’t lose as much money. Just because someone is paying taxes like the rest of their fellow citizens does not mean they are entitled to receive welfare if they are not qualified. Especially if they are using illegal drugs and cannot guarantee the money wouldn’t be going to a place it shouldn’t

Drug testing should be a requirement when applying for Welfare because it teaches self dependence. Allowing drug users to have welfare encourages them that they do not have to work for obtaining the basic necessities in life. Requiring drug screenings would allow addicts to change their life around and get the motivation that they need to support their families and community. Critics have argued that mandatory drug testing is prejudice against the poor ,but there are individuals who work hard and do not receive enough financial support. Should we discriminate against them ? we are taking money out of each paycheck they receive the least we can do is make sure that welfare funds end up in the right places. Drug addicts spend the little

People receiving government assistance should be required to submit a drug test for benefits, because it would save taxpayers’ money. There are currently seven states in America that drug screen their assistance receiving citizens. Many people want to argue that the findings are disheartening based on a few to a couple hundred people testing positive. The thing that people do not understand however, is that per every person who tests positive is a few hundred to a thousand dollars not being wasted the next month. Think about it, say citizens in Iowa receive $500 in benefits. Out of all of the welfare recipients, 100 test positive for

People who apply for welfare benefits should be tested for drugs and they should be cleared of all illicit drugs before they receive any benefits in the form of cash or food stamps because, the government spends so much money on welfare and rehabilitation programs and screening welfare recipients will help the government save more money to fix the economy. Most employees are tested of illicit drugs before they are employed by their employer so why shouldn’t welfare recipients also be tested of illicit drug before they receive any kind of assistance? The government deducts so much tax out of worker’s earnings of which part of these deductions go to fund welfare programs, therefore welfare assistance like cash should not be used to purchase

Meth, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin are among the top drugs that many people use and utilized as money making tactics. As we all know, drugs are found and they are heavily used in low income areas, not only do they pose a significant effect on one’s health but they pose a significant effect on our economy. Generally it is perceived that those who reside in low income areas are the ones who resort to drugs, evidently they are. Likewise, they are also the ones who are utilizing government assistance programs. Some of these programs include; health care, child care, ebt benefits, and even housing assistance programs. So the big question is “Should people who receive government assistance undergo drug tests?”

Thesis: The government should make drug testing mandatory for someone trying to receive welfare or public assistance in order to deter drug use, promote employment, and establish an equitable way of distributing money to those requesting it.

In America there countless families that need to rely on receiving government assistance or welfare to live and survive in their day to day lives. Sadly, a large portion of those Americans suffer financially as a direct reflection of chronic drug-use. The welfare system and all other government assistance programs have failed, and continue to fail, to implement rules and regulations in regards to drug-use by recipients. This circumstance opens up doors for those seeking to take advantage of the system, which do not work as a result of their drug use, and receive benefits and continue to use drugs. The government assistance programs would benefit from drug-testing all welfare and government assistance recipients not only to re-direct the benefits

Most people believe that drug testing welfare applicants and recipients is necessary and saves the government and taxpayers’ money. However, the majority do not know that drug testing cost the government more than it saves. If you better understand that the method of drug testing has shown to be an extremely flawed method for tracking down abusers, that it does not

Many people in our country have turned to public assistance for help in our troubling economy. Welfare programs in our country date back to the early 1900’s. When these programs first started they were set up to support those who genuinely needed it. Many of the people who use these programs are hard working people who have had unfortunate things happen to them. However for those who use government assistance for good there are those who take advantage of the programs. Those who take advantage have turned to drugs and are unable or unwilling to make the necessary life changes that the others using the support have. Welfare programs were started to help those who have fallen into an undesirable situation such as losing a job. These programs are not setup to aid in or assist in people’s drug habits. Drug use has substantially risen over the years many of the drugs that people are using are worse than recreational marijuana use. They are also set up to help mothers with children to keep their children at home and not in foster care. Also to ensure that children and theirs parents have food, shelter, and basic everyday essentials. Drug testing those who receive public assistance would be beneficial to the whole country. While there will always be these that insist that drug testing these people is unconstitutional. It also appears that those taking advantage of the system is also unconstitutional. Drug testing, as a requirement for welfare, would ensure that those who have a