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.