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Should Welfare Recipients Be Drug Tested??

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Drug Testing Welfare Recipients
Lindsey Holland
Stark State College

I myself am a Welfare recipient. Do I feel that it is discrimination by any means or any type of scrutiny to be asked to take a drug test to continue to receive public benefits? I guess you could look at it that way, but personally no. Until last month I also carried a full time job. I took a drug test to be able to start my job, and I was randomly tested to continue my employment there. Taxes were taken out of my paycheck, as they are for most people. These include Medicare and Federal taxes in which a certain percent is taken to provide public benefits for those whom are participants of Welfare. If I had to take a drug test to obtain and retain my employment, and had to pay out taxes, I think it would only make sense for those receiving the money coming out of my check to have to take a drug test as well. On the other hand, most jobs that require a drug test have a reasonable basis for doing so. Reasons like handling of food, operating heavy machinery, public interaction etc. Should Welfare recipients be drug tested? State Representative Sherman Mack R-Albany (“as Shuler has reported”, 2012 para. 21) explains that HB380 says that “the initial drug test be paid for by the state. If found to be an abuser, the individual would have to complete an education and rehabilitation program and take a subsequent drug test to show he or she is clean, at their own cost. Any participant who fails to complete the program in the allotted time would have their benefits suspended for one year from the date of the positive drug screen, or until satisfactory completion of the program. If a second positive test is obtained benefits will be halted for an entire year”. “Most Americans see the legitimate need for benefit programs for those who are struggling and need to get back on their feet. However, it is fiscally irresponsible for public monies to subsidize the use of illegal drugs. Tax payers should not be in the business of funding the lifestyles of those who are addicted to drugs, therefore condoning illegal behavior”. (Yee, 2012 para. 1) Agreed, but the defending side makes a few good points; denying benefits to these individuals is only punishing their families further for the case holder being an abuser and taking more money away from their children. As part of this Bill, if someone does test positive, not only will they have to complete the required program(s) but a Child Protective Services case would also be opened. Michelle Tope, (“Morrison reported”, 2011 para. 7) director of the Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services argues that the average cost to place a child in foster care and open a case on one family is over $2000.00. She also says that more children live with an alcohol dependent parent compared to 11.2% less of those children who live with a parent that uses illegal drugs. So along with a drug test should an alcohol test be administered as well? John Kasich, (“Morrison reported”, 2011 para. 3) Governor of Ohio, is also in this same debate. He states that “The fallout for children whose parents fail drug tests and are denied Welfare benefits should be considered. There are a lot of people hurting out there, and so I’m not sure this is the time to start saying to them, if you want to get something you’ve got to go through these hoops.” As you can see there are a lot of factors put into this debate that generally accumulate more tax dollars than was originally being put out to pay the benefits in the first place. “It's amazing, although depressingly unsurprising, how bad ideas are recycled time and again. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, almost two dozen states are considering bills that require drug testing those either applying for or receiving public benefits, a policy that has been cut down in the courts before because the Fourth Amendment grants that every individual be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures." (Walters, 2012 para. 1) I believe all of the above opposing arguments are legitimate. It may end up costing more money to do the drug tests, fund the programs and open CPS cases, then what was originally intended to save tax dollars by testing them in the first place. Of course there are always following comments to any of these reports. One of which caught my eye. “One problem with drug tests, if they are using urine or blood (the cheapest), then the results don’t really mean anything. Alcohol stays in your system for less than a day. You could be a fall down drunk and as long as you weren’t drunk while you took your test, you would pass. Hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin, meth, and prescription drugs only stay in your system a few days. You could do a speedball the week before your test and still pass with flying colors. While Marijuana, (by all measures less harmful than alcohol or hard drugs) stays in your system for at least 30 days. So a person who smoked 3 weeks prior fails, while a drunk or junkie who used a week prior will pass”. (DJM, 2012 comment 5) The legalization of marijuana is a complete different debate, but this man in my eyes is 100% correct. If this Bill passes, how much more tax payer dollars are going to go out for placement of children and open Child Protective Service Cases over someone smoking a little pot and to the junkie that is still receiving benefits because they stopped shooting up for a few days? Some States have already passed this or similar bills, some of which the drug test is only asked if there is a suspicion of a drug problem. I personally believe this will not last very long before those Bills are revised because randomly picking someone to take a drug test is giving them grounds to declare discrimination, etc. This Bill has not yet passed in many states still debating, including Ohio. Maybe we should try it out. The question is, is it really worth it? Only time will tell. References

DJM. (2012, May 17). [Web log message]. Retrieved from ://theadvocate.com/news/2841712-123/house-drug-test-welfare-recipients

Morrison, L. (2011, December 17). Drug-testing proposal for welfare recipients debated. Retrieved from http://www.timesreporter.com/newsnow/x2105825016/Drug-testing-proposal-for-welfare-recipients-debated

Shuler, M. (2012, May 17). House: Drug test welfare recipients. Retrieved from ://theadvocate.com/news/2841712-123/house-drug-test-welfare-recipients

Walters, J. (2012, March 13). Should welfare recipients be drug tested?. Retrieved from http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/testing-welfare-recipients-drugs.html

Yee, K. (2012, March 18). Opposing view: No drug test, no welfare. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/story/2012-03-18/drug-tests-welfare-Yee/53620412/1

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