Preview

Mandatory Drug Testing Research Paper

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1234 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Mandatory Drug Testing Research Paper
Celene Marin
S.Galper
GE217
3/1/12
Mandatory Drug Testing In The Work Place For many years, the United States has been involved in many wars, costing millions of dollars and the death of many people. One of the longest wars that the US is still facing is drug abuse in the work place, and a widespread strategy to combat this issue is mandatory drug testing. In September 15, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed execute order 12564, his goal was to establish a drug-free workplace. This order required all federal workers to abstain from drugs and submit to a voluntary drug test. Drug Abuse has a negative effect on the work place; therefore Drug testing should be mandatory in order to create a drug free and safe environment. This is a very
…show more content…
If a constitutional right is the subject, employers have the right to know if workers are engaging in behavior that can damage a company. Other people will argue that it will cost a lot of money; truthfully covering cost of an accident, profit loss and workers compensation will be a lot more. Implementing a mandatory drug testing program in the workplace has many benefits for example in Washington D.C a small plumbing company saved 385,000 thousand dollars in one year after they established a drug testing program. Not only did they save money they also had decreased accident rates, lower workers compensation cost and lower vehicle insurance premiums. W.W Gay Mechanical contractor saved 100,000 dollars after establishing a drug free workplace programs. They also reported increased productivity, decreased absenteeism, and fewer accidents. This proves that Mandatory drug testing can be beneficial to the workplace. Many will argue that it is unconstitutional, and that it invades privacy but employers have the right to know it their employees are engaging in behavior that can really damage the company.
As long as Illegal drug and substances exist, the war on drugs will continue and combating its negative effects will not be an easy task. There are many people who engage in drugs and 75 percent of those people are employed and those people are the ones who contribute to an increase of accidents, loss of profit and loss of productivity. How much more are we going to lose until we deter these negative effects? Mandatory drug testing in the workplace is an effective strategy, it is better than doing nothing and fooling ourselves that it is unconstitutional and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    During the fall of 1988, staff members of a public hospital located in the city of Charleston by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) became concerned by “an apparent increase in the use of cocaine by patients who were receiving prenatal treatment.” (Samaha, 2012, p. 252) In response to the increasing number, in April of 1989, MUSC instituted a drug testing policy. Women who came into MUSC that presented suspicion of drug use were subjected to the drug screenings. If the tests were positive, it was reported to police and the women were subsequently arrested. MUSC worked in conjunction with the Solicitor for Charleston in the prosecution of mothers whose children tested positive for drugs at birth.…

    • 925 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Testing poor and working people for drugs is not a new idea. It’s a trend that picked up significant steam during the war on drugs when in 1986, President Ronald Reagan issued an executive order requiring all federal job applicants to pee in a cup. The order was quickly followed by the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, which required employers with federal grants to keep their businesses drug-free. The act led to widespread drug testing in the private industry and, in a decade, the rate of drug testing applicants among large employers increased almost four fold, from 21 percent in 1987 to 81 percent in 1996 (Wessler, 2012).…

    • 826 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    As children, many people are introduced to the famous quote by late National Football League coach, Vince Lombardi, which is "winning isn 't everything; it 's the only thing" (Voy 204). Sports have always been about winning; however, some professional and amateur athletes take this simple saying too literally and it changes their outlook on their profession. As high school and even middle school athletes, they start to take drugs in order to be accepted, or to better their performance on the playing field (Louria n.pag). Once theses athletes reach the college level; they experiment, and are surrounded by even more drugs in order to get any advantage. It is not fair that one athlete can work hard in order to improve his performance, but then have another athlete improve more than him due to being wired on cocaine or bulked up on steroids. Also, Robert Voy states that drug use today is the biggest threat to the Olympics ideal, thus the Olympics and many other professional organizations are turning to drug testing. Testing is a huge controversy today because many believe that it violates one 's right of privacy; however, if there is no testing, many athletes will continue to have an unfair advantage to non drug users (180). Furthermore, it injures the user because it will result in mood changes, and it will hurt their health, if not immediately, then it will later on in their life. The chance of being caught using drugs is so small compared to the achievements one will have while using drugs which is so vast. No athlete should have an unfair advantage, these advantages only promote drug use, which many athletes believe it is a necessary means in today 's time. The only way to have the use of drugs decrease is to have mandatory drug testing across the board for all athletes.…

    • 2701 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    If mandatory drug testing were implemented, fewer checks would be used to purchase illegal drugs, and be used for necessary items instead. When a person is addicted to drugs, it consumes the individual’s life. The person becomes obsessed with the drug they are addicted to; it becomes more important to them, than, food, family and even their own well-being. This behavior puts them and everyone under their care at risk. If a welfare recipient has children and they use the money meant to feed their children for drugs; not only has our government paid for someone’s high, but the child will now go without food. On the flipside, if mandatory random drug testing was part of the process, we would be able to identify abusers and have their children placed where they can be cared for more effectively. This may help the next generation not to follow in their parent’s footsteps. In identifying this type of behavior, we may be able to save not only the children, but the abusers as well.…

    • 704 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Public Assistance is government aid to needy, aged, or disabled persons and to dependent children (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). All public assistance applicants should be required to take a mandatory drug test before they can qualify to receive any form of public assistance. Drug tests can detect a number of different illegal substances like, marijuana, steroids, amphetamines, cocaine, PCP, and opiates. “More than 22 million Americans age 12 and older - nearly 9% of the U.S. population - use illegal drugs, according to the government’s 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health”(CNN). One should never feel they are entitled to public assistance, it should be felt as more of a privilege. Sadly, in the last ten years, our economy has unfortunately depreciated rapidly. The economy is so bad at this point, that it can be very difficult to find employment. For some, it can be impossible, especially if uneducated. The result is that more people, now than ever, are applying for public assistance. The amount of public assistance being paid for food stamps, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is so high, it is imperative that we find a way to fix this situation to prevent so many people from taking advantage of something others in this world so desperately need and rely on to survive, not to feed their addictions.…

    • 1800 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Stork discussed how whenever a person fails a drug test they are required to get help for their addiction before applying again. So drug testing is not necessarily just too keep them from getting money. It is about helping them overcome their addictions so they can become a productive member of society.…

    • 969 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    References: Carnford, Michael (1998) "Drug Testing and the right to privacy: Arguing the ethics of workplace drug testing." Journal of Business Ethics, December 1998: Vol. 17, Issue 16. University of Phoenix: Electronic Reserve Readings. 15 Mar. 2006. http://www.apollolibrary.com/Library/ERR/ElectronicReserveReadings.aspx…

    • 1401 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients is right and reasonable in order to stop the habitual offenders of misusing this benefit. Are the hard working drug tested tax payers ready to support this law since it’s the hard earned tax dollars that fund these benefits? The argument stands to reason that we need to take control as employers to stop the misuse of benefits that pay for illegal drugs. Mandatory Drug Testing for Welfare. Recipients Government assistance, or welfare, is a very broad term. There are many different welfare programs available in the United States e.g., food stamps, cash assistance, and government housing. Currently there is mass debate, in courtrooms across the U.S., regarding the legality and morality of pre-assistance drug testing. This report is intended to familiarize the reader with the history of welfare reform; the histories of drug testing in regards to assistance eligibility; and persuade the audience to vote yes for mandatory pre-assistance drug testing.Welfare began during the great depression in the 1930’s then, just like now, there were many families that needed help from the government, and that is why they introduced welfare. In our world today there is social welfare, corporate welfare, child welfare, and many others that one can apply for. Other welfare programs, such as TANF and WIC, have truly made a difference in the lives of American families. Families are kept together, children are healthier and often times, recipients are able to use the welfare to help them as they find a new job. In some cases, welfare might even save lives. But, of course, the system has its flaws, and many argue that tax payer dollars are being wasted. Some citizens believe that recipients of welfare should undergo mandatory drug testing.…

    • 294 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Welfare Persuasive Speech

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Central Idea: If you have to be drug tested to get a job, you should have to be drug tested to get money from the government.…

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Imagine a world where drug addicts aren’t enabled, more people have jobs, and children grow up with food on the table. All of these things could be a reality if drug testing was required to become a welfare recipient. Welfare has become more accepted by mainstream American society, with more than 15% of the country taking advantage of it.…

    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Many other states have looked into introducing drug testing in their welfare policies, but due to its legality and cost it was never put into action. I feel that we need to push this issue in more states and eventually once people see that its what the public wants, there will be some kind of welfare reassessment.…

    • 1754 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people are constantly discussing the issue of welfare recipients abusing the system and spending their money on drugs while receiving government assistance. This issue has brought forward a possible solution of states passing legislation that will require welfare applicants to submit to a drug test before receiving any sort of government assistance. Drug testing welfare applicants before allowing them to receive assistance is a positive idea because most employers require drug tests to be taken by applicants pre-employment. This will help make sure that the government funding is being put toward the family and the needs of the household, and also because in the future it will benefit the children growing…

    • 955 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    4. Companies that involve airlines, railroads, buses, electric utilities, construction, etc. have a duty to the public to hire sound and professional employees. It is morally incorrect to have a bus driver, who is responsible for many lives throughout the week, to be on drugs. The companies that employ these people have a responsibility to provide a safe, healthy, and productive environment for their workers and the public. They use drug testing to massively avoid potential problems in the future.…

    • 1076 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Many ask and wonder if we should drug test but there is no point to it because it’s only a waste of states money.”(Salon Media Group) There is no point to do drug tests. People won’t listen and do the right thing. “Drug tests are expensive it takes a lot of money to get them, Millions.”(Salon Media Group) It’s so much money that’s a waste. I wouldn’t do drug tests id actually use the money wisely. “It is not important to drug test according to congress votes people are angry for the state to lose and be wasting money for something that isn’t worth. (Salon Media Group) Congress and everyone else agrees to not waste money. People are very mad about the money that the state wastes.…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The question at hand is, should recipients of welfare undergo drug testing for use of illegal drugs in order to receive their welfare checks? This is one of the issues that the US Congress and the US citizens have been debating for years. Author, Arthur Delany explains the concern of both sides of this question in his article, “Welfare Drug Testing Bill Introduced In Congress”, published in The Huffington Post. Like many social issues, there are opposing view points on the idea. On this issue, many would argue that drug testing for welfare recipients is unconstitutional and ultraconservative, while on the complete opposite side the argument, it is believed that the US government should not give…

    • 870 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays