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Drug Testing Welfare Recipients

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Drug Testing Welfare Recipients: A Wise Choice
Robert Denson
ENG1420
Mr. A. Hewlett
10 February 2015

The national welfare system was created in 1935 to provide federal aid to the elderly, disabled and qualifying single mothers during the Great Depression (Costly, 2015). Public housing assistance, the Food Stamp Program and Medicare are examples of state programs available to assist families in need. Welfare, undoubtedly, is an essential source of assistance for many under privileged families. In recent years, some states have enacted drug testing for welfare recipients. This action has raised the question if it’s unfair search and seizure, other words, unconstitutional (Fourth Amendment to The United States Constitution, n.d.), or does it really discourage suspected drug abuse
Many Americans agree there needs to be a reformation to the Welfare act and how the assistance should be utilized by its recipients. Opponents argue that the children will bear the brunt of the drug testing policy and it will cost more than it saves (Drug-Testing & The TANF Program, n.d.). The children depend on the adults to receive the benefits on their behalf, but when those benefits are being traded for drugs and/or cash to purchase drugs, there is no benefit. Discontinuing benefits to individuals who test positive for illegal substances would allow those funds to be returned to the state and federal budgets. In return, those unused funds will aid in balancing the state’s budget and redirect those funds to other deserving parents.
In the public’s eye, welfare recipients should be treated as if they were employed, in other words, employees of the taxpayers. In today’s work environment, nearly every employer requires potential candidates to submit to some form of drug testing prior to being extended a job offer. Employers often require their employees to submit to random

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