Opposing Viewpoints

Although there are countless individuals who oppose, drug testing welfare recipients for welfare assistance, there is quite a significant amount of people who agree that welfare applicants should be drug tested. As some believe, that welfare assistance should only be available during desperate measures. As Ranee adds in “Welfare Programs Should Include Mandatory Drug Testing,” “I totally agree with drug testing people on government assistance. I live in a town where there are so many that are on welfare, some honestly do need it and some that could work but “play” the system and spend our tax dollars on dope”(1). In other words, Ranee is arguing that some people over use the welfare system, when may not need it. However, I find her statement to be misleading. As there are many people who are in desperate need of welfare assistance. Likewise one would only know, if he or she is using illegal drugs if one witnessed or observed that welfare applicant using illegal drugs. Ranee goes on to mention, that welfare applicants who fail a drug test due to a prescribed drug, should be able to get proof from their physician. Yet, this can be time consuming for the individual and the doctor who has to go through this process. Moreover, depending on the prescribed drug one can feel as if it is an invasion of privacy for others such as the person who is giving the drug test to know. Due to this, many welfare applicants may not apply for welfare assistance if he or she knows there is a drug test involved. More importantly children will suffer at the risk of this.

Furthermore, many individuals believe that if you have the money to buy illegal drugs then you don’t need welfare assistance. You will likely not like what I am about to say, but, I highly disagree with this. As mentioned before, studies have shown that there were only a small percentage of welfare applicants who actually tested positive for illegal drugs. Therefore this indicates that many welfare applicants do not use drugs. The welfare applicants, who test positive for drugs, should not be denied welfare assistance, but rather get assistance to wean them off of drugs. Likewise, if potential employers must get tested for drug use, then welfare applicants should be tested as well. This could be consider fair, however if most welfare applicants test negative for drug use, then there is no need for such drug tests at all.

"Welfare Programs Should Include Mandatory Drug Testing." Welfare. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.

Ethical Issues

Should Society have to pay for the welfare of the less unfortunate? Many people would argue that society should not have to pay for the welfare of the poor; as everyone is presumably held responsible for their own actions. However, the assistance to the needy helps to keep our country stable. Without the help, many individuals in society would face extreme poverty. The social ladder would crumble, and those who were once considered under class, would be facing serious deprivation. Moreover when society pays for the welfare of the less unfortunate, they are potentially helping themselves. Consider Beth, an individual who is employed at a firm for twenty years. Beth pays her taxes, which in return helps to pay for the welfare of the less unfortunate. Then unexpectedly, the firm that Beth is working for goes out of business. Within the last six months, Beth has not been employed. Beth must file for unemployment. Beth considers that society is helping to pay for her welfare assistance. My point is not that we should downgrade those who are welfare assistance, but that we should look at welfare assistance as a support in becoming self-sufficient. Ideally, once Beth finds employment, she will return to society as a hard working individual. Despite this, many people claim that those who are on welfare assistance are lazy and uneducated, however that can be considered false, as for the example stated above. According to Current Issues 2010 in “Welfare Reform,” “the signed act was a strong message to the poor that the government would only help them if they were willing to help themselves” (1). As this shows that, America stands for the welcoming land of opportunity, so it is ultimately up to us and our government to pick up our fellow citizens when they have fallen behind.

Should the poor be held responsible for their actions? As you know, the welfare applicants who test positive for illegal drugs suffer the consequence of being denied welfare assistance. However to what extent, is this beneficial? None, as struggling families suffer more when there is no help. Instead, those who test positive for illegal drugs should get the appropriate support they need. By this I mean, the necessary treatment to get off of drugs, without abusing the welfare system.

"Welfare Reform." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

Drug testing welfare applicants puts children at risk and invades privacy

To drug test welfare recipients, could potentially put children at risk.  According to Jean Daniel a USDA spokesperson “More than 39 million Americans receive food stamps”. Within this number there are many low income families, in particular women and children who rely on this assistance. Suggestions for required drug testing would deny assistance to anyone who failed a drug test. In other words if a mother of four children failed her drug test, then her children would also suffer the consequences of her actions. As Lewis and Kenefick add in “Welfare Programs Should Not Include Mandatory Drug Testing,” “Welfare sanctions and benefit decreases have been shown to increase the risk that children will be hospitalized and face food insecurity. Because TANF (Temporary Assistance of Needy Families) benefits are so low, children suffer even when only the “adult portion” of the benefit is eliminated” (3). This demonstrates that, once a parent test positive for drug use, the children will suffer as well. Moreover, the parent may not qualify for a specific job and further household expenses will affect a child’s basic essentials. Due to this, many applicants fear testing for drug use and the help of seeking treatment. Denying assistance to those who test positive for drug use ultimately disrupts a family well-being.

Furthermore testing applicants for drug use interferes with one’s privacy.  States such as Missouri and Arizona have the right to drug test anyone who has reasonable suspicion of using illegal drugs. While Florida, has the right to drug test all welfare applicants who apply for welfare assistance. This simply means that, if your appearance or demeanor appears otherwise, then the states mentioned above, have the right to assume you that you could be using banned substances; additionally conducting a drug test. Despite this course of action, a federal judge has temporarily blocked Florida’s Law. “The American Civil Liberties Union sued the state last month on behalf of Luis Lebron, a 35 year old navy veteran and single father from Orlando who is finishing his college degree” (Catalanello, 1). Lebron refused to take a drug test, because there were no reasons to believe he uses illegal drugs. Indeed the judge agreed on his behalf, “saying the state failed to prove “special needs” as to why it should conduct such searches without probable cause, as the law requires”(Catalanello, 1). Therefore this means that, the state should not conduct a drug test without sensible suspicion of drug use. Random searches are accepted if they meet a high legal standard ( Lewis and Kenefick, 3)

Lewis, Matt, and Elizabeth Kenefick. "Welfare Programs Should Not Include Mandatory Drug Testing." Welfare. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Random Drug Testing of TANF Recipients is Costly, Ineffective, and Hurts Families." Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), 2011. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 5 Nov. 2013.

Catalanello, Rebecca. "JUDGE SAYS NO TO DRUG TESTING; The injunction says testing applicants for welfare may be illegal search and seizure." St. Petersburg Times [St. Petersburg, FL] 25 Oct. 2011: 1A. Global Issues In Context. Web. 5 Nov. 2013.

Drug Testing Welfare Applicants are Costly and Ineffective

Drug testing aid recipients, is costly and ineffective. The administrative cost and drug test can cause, anywhere from $25-35. If an individual has to repeat the drug test, the costs will be increased as well. To avoid false positives, states such as Utah and Idaho require human services to administer repeated tests of split samples (Lewis and Kenefick, 1). Furthermore testing all applicants for drug use is not cost effective; as only a few applicants test positive for drugs. According to Arthur Delaney in “Welfare Drug Testing Catches Only 12 Users In Utah,” “the state prescreened 4,730 applicants to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program with a written test. The state followed up with an actual drug test for the 466 of those whose written answers suggested a likelihood of drug use. The 466 tests have turned out 12 positive results, as the Associated Press first reported”[1] (1). This shows that, out of the number of applicants drug tested in each state, there may be a small number of applicants who actually test positive. Likewise, the cost to identify a drug user is $20,000-$77,000(Lewis and Kenefick).  Taxpayer’s dollars are being wasted on finding a small number of users, when most applicants test negative.

            When testing an applicant, it is difficult to determine if one is an occasional substance abuser or a substance abuser. Chemical drug test have more significant fault, as they cannot detect alcohol or prescription drug abuse, but reasonably only the specific chemicals for which samples are tried (Lewis and Kenefick, 2).  Likewise, determining how long it takes for drugs to leave you system; test can be proven ineffective. Although drug use can be problematic, it does not impose on one’s employment outcome. “In the state of Florida, TANF recipients who tested positive for drug use had income and employments in comparable levels to those who tested negative for drug use (Lewis and Kenefick, 2). This implies that those who test positive for drug use can still live a modest lifestyle. Furthermore, once one is taken off of drugs, he or she is able to improve their lives.

There should be alternatives to drug testing welfare recipients. The government should create benefit programs that aid in helping those who apply and are on welfare assistance, which will discourage the act of drug use. Therefore allowing those who are actively using drugs, to be able to come forward and get the appropriate help they need; such as free treatment.

Lewis, Matt, and Elizabeth Kenefick. "Welfare Programs Should Not Include Mandatory Drug Testing." Welfare. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Random Drug Testing of TANF Recipients is Costly, Ineffective, and Hurts Families." Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), 2011. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.

---

[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/27/welfare-drug-testing_n_3822750.html

Blog Post 1: The Central Argument

As you know, many Americans depend on government assistance. Government assistance can be defined as, the help and support such as money or food given to the low class, poor or needy individuals and families. Notably, “food aid is one of the largest and fastest growing of the federal government welfare programs. Over the last four years, programs spending has doubled, reaching approximately &80 billion in FY 2012. More Americans receive food stamps now than any time in our nation’s history” (Sheffiel, 1). Despite this, many Americans on welfare assistance still struggle daily and go through many hardships. Providing food, shelter, and clothing and even financially stability are all obstacles, many low class and poor individuals endure.  

Currently, it is getting harder for individuals to receive aid, as many states are requiring mandatory drug testing for those who are applying for welfare assistance and food stamps. According to, Yamiche Alcindor in “State aid could be ties to drug test,” “23 states sleek to adopt stricter laws that would require public aid recipients to take drug tests. Florida law now requires all aid applicants to be drug tested while Arizona and Missouri require testing for anyone they “reasonably” suspect of illegal drugs. This shows that, if aid recipient tested positive, then he or she will be delayed in getting food stamps; likewise the family will suffer in addition. Many aid recipients will also be stigmatized as well. Furthermore, in Colorado Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg, has proposed a bill which would require applicants in his state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, to pay for a drug test prior to government assistance. Not only is this time consuming but it will take money out of aid applicant’s pocket, as drug test cost can range from $8-12(Yamiche, 1).

While welfare assistance can be beneficial, welfare programs should not include mandatory drug testing. With reason, millions of lower class and the poor have relied on welfare assistance, as a stepping stone into become self-sufficient. To drug test millions of aid applicants would simply imply that the government is not doing its job correctly. Moreover, drug testing is costly to tax payers, and interferes with our privacy/puts children at risk. We will examine statistics, stories, and reason in further posts.

"Making food stamps more than a handout." Washington Times [Washington, DC] 10 Oct. 2013: A04. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.

Alcindor, Yamiche. "State aid could be tied to drug test." USA Today 1 Mar. 2012: 1A. Global Issues In Context. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.

                                    

About Me

The following pictures represent me !

My name is Arnalda. I can describe myself as a friendly easygoing person. 

I love African fashion. One day I have the hopes of creating my own boutique. 

Hanging out and sharing laughter with my good friends and my brother, is something that I love to do. My good friends and brother have always been there for me. 

God is important to me, so i try to live my life in a good way. 

Furthering my education and school, is also something that represents me.