Essay On Drug Testing For Welfare

Drug Testing For Welfare
Our country is experiencing a major drug crisis As of right now, 13 states have adopted policies involving drug testing for welfare. Each state has a different policy, and handles drug testing in different ways. West Virginia has a three offense policy. The first time a welfare recipient tests positive for drugs, he/she will be able to keep the benefits but will be required to attend job encouragement and rehabilitation programs. The second offense consists of the recipient losing his/her benefits for up to a year, and continuing the programs. The third time the recipient tests positive, he/she will lose all benefits. Drug testing for welfare could save taxpayers money in the long term. Eliminating drug abusers from
state aid programs would decrease the amount of money each state must provide to its citizens. Welfare programs state that recipients must be “drug free”, however they do not enforce the policy. It is a fact that drug abuse occurs in every social demographic, but it is more likely for one in the low income class to be using drugs than someone in the wealthier classes. Someone in the poverty class is more likely to be spending money on drugs to alleviate the symptoms of his/her lack of wealth. By requiring drug testing for welfare, it could stop people from getting on drugs in the first place. Further more, many people must be drug tested to have a career.
Companies want their employees drug free in order to receive a paycheck. Welfare recipients should also be drug free to receive their benefits. It is a normal part of life to be drug free. On the other hand, drug testing for welfare has its cons. To start with, some people may feel discriminated. Although there are many people who are drug tested in order to have a job, not everyone is. Making everyone eligible for welfare undergo drug testing could be considered discrimination against the poor, based on the assumption that they are a drug user just because they don’t make a lot of money. The biggest con against trust testing for welfare, is that if one loses their benefits, the child of the person will lose them too. By requiring drug testing of parents who are on welfare and not receiving direct benefits, there could be a lot of children who won’t receive benefits that they may rightly deserve under the law. Chances are if a parent is buying drugs, the child is not receiving the amount they deserve. If a parent can not manage their drug addiction, they may possibly put their child at risk for malnourishment, or even abuse. If that is the case, and a parent is unfit and incompetent, they should lose all
parental rights and custody.
Specifically, the government should adopt a new policy that involves similar consequences to one testing positive on a drug test. Instead of allowing them to mess up three times, one drug test should be enough. Drugs are illegal, and they always will be. Adults should be well aware of this. It is understandable that life can be difficult at times, especially with low income issues, but drugs are not an excuse. Nothing can justify why one is doing drugs. Also, the programs for job encouragement and rehabilitation will have to be funded in some way, and through research, an answer has not been found about where the funding for the programs will come from. Plus, an adult should not have to be required to take a class or seminar on morals and changing their life. If somebody truly wants to change, they will make that change happen. It is not the tax payers duty to hold the hand of people who can not organize their lives and get their priorities straight. In order to get this policy passed, the state legislature must be contacted. Drugs are an ongoing issue in the United States and especially in the state of West Virginia. Something must been done. The government needs to stop being so lenient and tighten up the rules on welfare recipients and drug use.