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.