Individuals Who Need Government Assistance Should

Jason Lowbridge

Professor Jerome M. McKeever

English 1010

9 November 20112

Word Count 941

Some lawmakers around the country are beginning to demand that welfare recipients submit to random drug testing as a condition of their benefits. Wyoming Republican House Speaker, Ed Buchanan, stated that “Joe Taxpayer  doesn’t mind helping you out, but you need to show that you are looking for work, or better yet, that you’re employed, and that you’re are drug and alcohol free.” (Neary et al. 2012) Georgia State Senator John Albers strongly believes that “tax dollars should never be spent on enabling illegal activity.” (Quinn et al. 2012)  “With more Americans turning to the government for assistance in this struggling economy, over three dozen states have proposed drug testing for people receiving benefits like welfare, unemployment assistance, job training, food stamps and public housing.” (Sulzberger 2011) The 1996 Welfare Reform Act authorized that states can impose mandatory drug testing as a prerequisite to receiving welfare assistance. Although the act did not make drug testing a requirement, all signs point to people who require any form of government assistance will be required to submit to those random drug tests. Despite some opposition to implementing plans to drug test government assistance recipients, the good parts of the plan may outweigh the bad.

The most obvious reason for drug testing those who require government assistance is it will keep people off of drugs, therefore, making society a safer place and cracking down on the sale of illegal drugs. Those in favor of drug testing believe that it may also be a way to help people that are already addicted to drugs. Those that need the assistance for themselves and family may be forced to get the help that they need and give up their drug habits in an effort to survive.

However, those opposed to drug testing welfare recipients are appalled by the assumption that because one is having financial problems and require assistance, that it makes them a drug addict.  They feel that the stigma attached to being a welfare recipient is bad enough, let alone being required to submit to drug testing. Additionally, opponents feel children may actually be the ones that suffer. Parents that are banned from receiving assistance because of a failed drug test, will not receive the assistance that is necessary to support their children.

Those in favor of the mandatory drug testing bill feel it is o.k. to drug test those who require government assistance because government assistance is supposed to be temporary and, going forward, most employers will drug test in the workforce, either before hiring an employee, or randomly during their employment. Drug testing will require recipients to stay drug free and hopefully make them employable.  By staying sober, people can look for a job or go to school, anything that will reduce the need to stay on welfare.

On the other hand, opponents say that most employees sign a consent form allowing their employer to drug test. Welfare recipients may actually be having their fourth amendment right, of illegal search and seizure, violated. In 2003 A U.S. District Court judge in Michigan struck down an attempt to impose drug testing on welfare recipients. The ACLU argued, and the judge agreed, that drug testing violated the fourth amendment protection against unreasonable searches.

Finally, mandatory drug testing of people that require government assistance will cut down on cases of welfare fraud. Welfare fraud is an ongoing problem in the country and it is simply not fair to ask tax payers to pay for the people on welfare who suffer from drug addictions. No state wants to waste valuable tax dollars.

Opponents will argue that drug testing is expensive. So even if they are kicking people out of the government assistance programs because of drug abuse, the government is still not really saving tax payer money. On average, administering a drug test costs $42.00 per person. The Center for Law and Social Policy states that “since few substance abusers are identified in tests, but many are tested, the cost of catching a drug abuser may run between $20,000 and $77,000 per person.” (Montaldo 2012)

There are a number of pros and cons to drug testing those who need government assistance, but ultimately states are doing whatever is necessary to save money in these economic times, and drug testing is an available option. States will work through the 4^th amendment legal issues and find a way to drug test assistance recipients. In an effort to save costs associated with the drug testing, many states may follow Florida’s example and actually require the recipient to pay the costs of the drug tests. Litigation is pending in the Florida court system, but as it stands now, those that refuse or fail, lose their assistance. The latest call for drug testing government assistance recipients will happen sooner rather than later.

Works Cited

ACLU. “Drug Testing Of Public Assistance Recipients As A Condition Of Eligibility” ACLU.com. 8 April 2008. Web.12 Nov. 2012.

House, Michael. “Drug Testing For Welfare Recipients: Pros And Cons.” Myaddiction.com. 8 July 2011. Web.12 Nov. 2012.

Montaldo, Charles. “Drug Testing Welfare.” About.com. 13 February 2012. Web.12 Nov. 2012.

Neary, Ben and Ivan Moreno. “Conservatives’ Plans To Drug Test Welfare Recipients Get Momentum, Earn Support Of GOP Candidates.” Huffington Post. 25 Feb. 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.

Quinn, Christopher and Christine Torres. “Drug Test Bill Draws Legal Heat.” The Atlanta Journal Constitution. 9 April 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.

Sulzberger, A.G. “States Adding Drug Test As Hurdle For Welfare.” NYtimes.com.10 October 2011. Web.12 Nov. 2012.