Drug Use In Our Welfare System

Drug Use in Our Welfare System A common problem in today’s welfare system is the use of drugs. Substance abuse and addiction often interfere with a parent’s ability to get and keep jobs as well as contributes to child abuse and neglect. Addicted mothers show several deficits in their parenting behaviors. They are usually unengaged, uncommunicative with their infants, often use threatening and authoritarian disciplinary approaches. They also have a higher incidence of child abuse and neglect (Flanzer). Drug use can be a barrier to employment and self-sufficiency and should be appropriately addressed within the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) system. This problem could be solved with what is referred to as a “screen-and-refer”
The first reason seems to stem from the argument that if harm were reduced for users the result would be an increase in the prevalence of drug use and, therefore, increased harm to society in terms of health care costs and violent crime. Those taking this position present as supporting evidence the fact that improved automobile safety features have led to increased speeding by drivers. Also, it has been suggested that because drug users are risk takers to begin with, they may increase use or risky behavior to compensate for the harm reduction assumptions that substance use is part of the human condition. The second reason stems from concerns about "sending the wrong message." If harm reduction were implemented, it might be interpreted as condoning drug use. The fear is that harm reduction would lead to new users and undermine efforts to engage current users in trying to achieve
Studies have varied widely, putting the portion of the TANF recipient population with a substance abuse disorder at anywhere between four and thirty-seven percent, but the variation is due in part to the definitions, measurement methods, and sub-population included. (48% of those that answered my class poll said that they knew someone that received TANF and were abusers of a form of drug). Variations are also due to fears of disclosure and limited data; it is difficult to quantify how many TANF recipients have substance use problems. Rates are on a the lower end when studies looked at indicators of abuse of or dependence on illicit drugs, whereas they increase when they signify drug use and/or include alcohol abuse