To What Extent Welfare Should Not Be Drug Tested Essay

Drug testing welfare recipients is negative because drug tests performed on welfare recipients is not an accurate

Author Ilan Wurman argues in this his publication, that drug testing to apply for welfare violates the fourth amendment of the constitution so changes must be made to the current system. A failed testing program in Florida required all applicants to complete a drug screening test before receiving benefits and the cost of the tests are paid for by the applicant, but reimbursed if the test results are negative. Wurman concludes by stating that suspicion less drug testing of government assistance recipients in

While it is true that there are some jobs that do require a drug test prior to employment, the employees have a choice in the matter. If they do not wish to take a drug test, or if they fail the test, they can choose to find another job. However, by making it mandatory that welfare recipients be drug tested, they do not have a choice. If welfare recipients fail a drug test or refuse to take it, they don’t have the option to find another government to get the assistance that they need. Most welfare recipients are in need of public assistance due to situations that they cannot control. For example, if a single mother of three kids gets laid off due to the harsh economy, at some point, she has no other choice but to ask for help. Eventually, she may have to utilize public assistance that the government has put in place such as food stamps, Medicaid, or welfare. If the government makes drug testing mandatory, the single mother of three has only one choice to make—do whatever the government requires to feed

United States lawmakers face one of the most pressing issues of our time-welfare reform. New screening processes, often considered a direct violation of constitutional rights, have already been enacted in many states. Strong evidence exists, asserting that the practice of administering drug testing to welfare recipients will cost the U.S. taxpayers more money in the long run, stigmatize applicants and participants, and serve only the purpose of making the pharmaceutical companies more powerful. In order to protect the constitutional rights of potential welfare recipients, United States lawmakers should avoid further criminalizing the poor by submitting them to drug testing and/or a nationwide welfare registry.

Why do people that are working have to pass a drug test while those on welfare do not? This is the question that is causing a lot of debate across the country and throughout congress. Many working class Americans are outraged at the current welfare policies and believe something needs to change. There are always going to be people on government assistance who are abusing the system and who are using drugs while not working. Something needs to change so we can actually help families who need assistance, not those who are abusing drugs and the system. Therefor, I believe that states should require drug testing of all individuals on welfare since those who are supporting them have to pass a drug test.

Resulting in the others stereotyping welfare recipients as lazy and drug involved individuals, which there has been NO evidence supporting either of those statements(Pyke). For example, Tennessee recently concluded a drug screening on individuals who applied for welfare. The results revealed that less than one half of one percent of individuals failed the drug test. In other words, only 37 out of 16,000 people tested positive for drugs in their system (Pyke). Now given that not every state requires a drug screening, people slip through the cracks, again portraying welfare as a bad thing. With such a bad rep, a constant question is brought up to the surface; “Should welfare recipients be required to work(Pyke)?”

Over 109,000 of the 309,000 people living in the United States of America are believed to be on welfare. Which means 35% of the population of America is does not make enough money to provide for themselves or even their families. Those families rely on government funded programs such as Medicare, food stamps, and social security. Although many Americans use these programs for their actual needs others take advantage of it. Many people, including myself, believe that tax payer’s money should not be used by drug addicts to buy more drugs. I believe that if you are able to purchase drugs then you should be able to buy necessities for living without the government suppling them to you

Also, there is no accounting of what Florida will spend on a pending legal challenge that they will likely lose” Five reasons not to drug test welfare recipients and applicants, February 29 2012, Retrieved from HTTP://okpolicy.org. The common reason that keeps arising is you have potentially millions of dollars in tax payer money has been spent and less than 8% of test results produce positive results. I started on the other end of this argument. In my proposal I was for legislation that required drug testing welfare recipients and applicants. I was only looking at what I thought was far not the total picture. The truth is American is in debt, a debt that total about $13.08 trillion dollars. The opposing side would argue that drug testing will lower Americas debt but this is not true. With evidence I provided throughout my paper you see the numbers just don't add up. Yes, I agree, too many have become too dependent on the welfare system . Something needs to be done but not at the cost of tax payers. It is hard enough with the taxes already being taken out of hard-working people pay check, why ask for more when we are not in a financial position to do

Welfare drug tested- i believe these people need to be drug tested because if they’re ‘needing’ welfare for them and their kids. If they need it they should be spending it on food, and nesecities, not drugs. Im sorry but if you would rather spend my tax payer money on drugs rather than putting food on your childs table then, you shouldn’t be recieving money, nor should your kids be living with you.

There are many states that have a drug testing programs for their welfare programs: Arizona, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Maine, Michigan and Utah. Out of these, Arizona, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah has spent, collectively, nearly one million dollars on drug testing their recipients. That would be one million dollars that could have been spent on our schools, roads, and police. In Missouri, the cost of testing was $336,297 and only 48 out of 38,970 applicants had positive drug test. Within three years of this program being up and running, it will cost the Missouri taxpayers $1.35 million(6). With the exception of one of these states, the drug use rate among those tested was less than one

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

Another solution for drug testing welfare recipients is to try and sway away the public and generalization that all welfare recipients are drug abusers. With a little time and research, data can be gathered and looked over to see if there is indeed a problem with drugs and those on welfare. If the numbers do show that there indeed isn’t a problem with drug abuse, then this information needs to get out into the public and made known. Educating the population with factual numbers may possibly sway the publics’ opinion on welfare and drug

Law makers believe drug testing welfare recipients is an effective use of tax payers dollars. Advocates believe drug testing will ensure welfare benefits will be used properly on things such as housing and other necessities instead of drugs. Mandatory drug testing will help identify individuals who can benefit from drug treatment. They can receive help and tax payers save money in the long run. For drug testing to be effective only individuals suspicious of drug activity will be tested. Members of legislative argue drug testing is required by employers, it is reasonable to drug test welfare assistance. Adding more requirements will encourage individuals to avoid paperwork and hassle.

Many believe the government should not provide subsidies because there are people who use that money for drugs. I believe those on welfare should be drug tested. Individuals found to be on drugs should be offered programs to help with drug abuse. If an individual denies the help then they should not be allowed on welfare. If the individual accepts the help, they should be allowed to stay on welfare.

The decision whether a person who is on welfare should be drug tested or not is a continuing controversy. When I chose this topic, before any information was researched, I agreed that welfare recipients should be drug tested. As I was researching information to back up my claim, I discovered that there was more accurate evidence that backed up the counter argument. This convinced me to agree with my counter argument. Although some people believe it is a good idea to test a welfare recipient for drug use, it actually can do more harm than good.