Mandatory Drug Testing for Welfare Essay Example
Drug Testing for Welfare
Health care, food stamps, child care assistance, unemployment, cash aid, and housing assistance are all forms of welfare in the United States. “In fiscal year 1995, federal, state, and local governments spent about $1.5 trillion on social welfare programs, an increase of $69.4 billion (5 percent) from 1994” (Joseph 1). Substance abuse is a major financial burden which “In 1998… cost Americans an estimated $110 billion in expenses and lost revenue” (Lyman and Potter 8). According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, performed by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, 8.7 percent of the population nationally over age 12 uses illicit drugs. The rate was 6.3 percent for those ages 26 and up (Whittenburg). Mandatory drug testing for welfare benefits should be implemented in order to eliminate excessive tax dollars from being spent carelessly on individuals who may be taking advantage of the welfare system.
Random drug testing of welfare recipients would save the government and taxpayers money each year. In Drugs in Society: Causes, Concepts and Control, the authors state that “Americans spend $277 per year in state taxes to deal with the effects of substance abuse” (Lyman and Potter 8). While there is debate over the cost of random drug screening Aliyah Shahid states in her article “If welfare candidates pass the drug screening, they’ll be reimbursed for the test” (Shahid). The average price per test is $30. On average, a welfare recipient costs the state $134 in monthly benefits, which the rejected applicants won't get, saving the state $2,680-$3,350 per month. But since one failed test disqualifies an applicant for a full year's worth of benefits, the state could save $32,200-$48,200 annually on the applicants rejected in a single month. Testing for substance use would also encourage people who are receiving benefits to use them to actually help their families. If a person is down on their luck because
Health care, food stamps, child care assistance, unemployment, cash aid, and housing assistance are all forms of welfare in the United States. “In fiscal year 1995, federal, state, and local governments spent about $1.5 trillion on social welfare programs, an increase of $69.4 billion (5 percent) from 1994” (Joseph 1). Substance abuse is a major financial burden which “In 1998… cost Americans an estimated $110 billion in expenses and lost revenue” (Lyman and Potter 8). According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, performed by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, 8.7 percent of the population nationally over age 12 uses illicit drugs. The rate was 6.3 percent for those ages 26 and up (Whittenburg). Mandatory drug testing for welfare benefits should be implemented in order to eliminate excessive tax dollars from being spent carelessly on individuals who may be taking advantage of the welfare system.
Random drug testing of welfare recipients would save the government and taxpayers money each year. In Drugs in Society: Causes, Concepts and Control, the authors state that “Americans spend $277 per year in state taxes to deal with the effects of substance abuse” (Lyman and Potter 8). While there is debate over the cost of random drug screening Aliyah Shahid states in her article “If welfare candidates pass the drug screening, they’ll be reimbursed for the test” (Shahid). The average price per test is $30. On average, a welfare recipient costs the state $134 in monthly benefits, which the rejected applicants won't get, saving the state $2,680-$3,350 per month. But since one failed test disqualifies an applicant for a full year's worth of benefits, the state could save $32,200-$48,200 annually on the applicants rejected in a single month. Testing for substance use would also encourage people who are receiving benefits to use them to actually help their families. If a person is down on their luck because