Drug tests for Welfare

[Arlen Sanglere]

Drug tests should be used for people on welfare. It is disgusting that so many druggies and losers are able to make it through society by using taxpayers money to support their addiction. I have seen it. They don't find work, they just sit around on their ass so they won't have to find work. They drink, smoke and use drugs. You should be forced to take a drug test for welfare so average people aren't ripped off and it is used for people looking for work. http://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/ ... nce-abuse/ Drug abuse caused poverty. I think we should be cutting off those leeches so they have to find normal jobs which would reduce poverty.

What do you think? Should drugs test be needed for welfare?

[USS Monitor]

No, because states that have tried it found that most welfare recipients passed the drug test. I think the cost of administering the test was enough so they didn't save money.

There are some other people on NS who are more well-read on the subject than I am, so we'll have to see if they weigh in with more info.

[Souseiseki]

No, because states that have tried it found that most welfare recipients passed the drug test. I think the cost of administering the test was enough so they didn't save money.

There are some other people on NS who are more well-read on the subject than I am, so we'll have to see if they weigh in with more info.

you're pretty much spot on

[Neutraligon]

No, because states that have tried it found that most welfare recipients passed the drug test. I think the cost of administering the test was enough so they didn't save money.

There are some other people on NS who are more well-read on the subject than I am, so we'll have to see if they weigh in with more info.

That's what I recall from brief readings. That the cost of the testing was far greater then any money saved.

[Geilinor]

No, because states that have tried it found that most welfare recipients passed the drug test. I think the cost of administering the test was enough so they didn't save money.

There are some other people on NS who are more well-read on the subject than I am, so we'll have to see if they weigh in with more info.

It's also unconstitutional according to the Supreme Court of Florida because it constitutes unreasonable search. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/us/politics/court-strikes-down-drug-tests-for-florida-welfare-applicants.html?_r=0

[Galloism]

No, because states that have tried it found that most welfare recipients passed the drug test. I think the cost of administering the test was enough so they didn't save money.

There are some other people on NS who are more well-read on the subject than I am, so we'll have to see if they weigh in with more info.

you're pretty much spot on

Yeah. Pretty much.

It's more expensive than the problem you're trying to solve.

[Arlen Sanglere]

No, because states that have tried it found that most welfare recipients passed the drug test. I think the cost of administering the test was enough so they didn't save money.

There are some other people on NS who are more well-read on the subject than I am, so we'll have to see if they weigh in with more info.

It's also unconstitutional according to the Supreme Court of Florida because it constitutes unreasonable search. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/us/politics/court-strikes-down-drug-tests-for-florida-welfare-applicants.html?_r=0

It's not unconstitutional In Australia fortunately.

No, because states that have tried it found that most welfare recipients passed the drug test. I think the cost of administering the test was enough so they didn't save money.

There are some other people on NS who are more well-read on the subject than I am, so we'll have to see if they weigh in with more info.

It removes people that abuse the system which is the point of it. You don't want the state paying for people's drug habits.

[Geilinor]

It's also unconstitutional according to the Supreme Court of Florida because it constitutes unreasonable search. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/us/politics/court-strikes-down-drug-tests-for-florida-welfare-applicants.html?_r=0

It's not unconstitutional In Australia fortunately.

Fortunately? It doesn't work as a method of getting people on treatment.

[Arlen Sanglere]

It's not unconstitutional In Australia fortunately.

Fortunately? It doesn't work as a method of getting people on treatment.

It will hopefully help them to be caught and then put in rehab.

[Faustian Fantasies]

Fortunately? It doesn't work as a method of getting people on treatment.

It will hopefully help them to be caught and then put in rehab.

Not everybody who fails a drug test should be in rehab.

[Galloism]

No, because states that have tried it found that most welfare recipients passed the drug test. I think the cost of administering the test was enough so they didn't save money.

There are some other people on NS who are more well-read on the subject than I am, so we'll have to see if they weigh in with more info.

It removes people that abuse the system which is the point of it. You don't want the state paying for people's drug habits.

Why do we want the government to become less efficient? I think that's the core question.

Even corporations realize that some theft is an inevitable consequence of existence - they don't overreact and attach a $100 GPS to every $2 ice cube tray. We know some waste is going to happen with the welfare system, but when the cure costs more than the problem we shouldn't do it, as it results in the government becoming less efficient.

[Wisconsin9]

No, because states that have tried it found that most welfare recipients passed the drug test. I think the cost of administering the test was enough so they didn't save money.

There are some other people on NS who are more well-read on the subject than I am, so we'll have to see if they weigh in with more info.

It removes people that abuse the system which is the point of it. You don't want the state paying for people's drug habits.

Right, because it's a waste of taxpayer money. It falls a bit flat when you end up spending more taxpayer money than you save, though.

[Arlen Sanglere]

It will hopefully help them to be caught and then put in rehab.

Not everybody who fails a drug test should be in rehab.

Unless you are talking about Poppy seeds, I see no reasons why they wouldn't.

It removes people that abuse the system which is the point of it. You don't want the state paying for people's drug habits.

Right, because it's a waste of taxpayer money. It falls a bit flat when you end up spending more taxpayer money than you save, though.

No, it's because it is unethical. They are getting something for nothing. It's fine if they actually want work but most druggies don't want work.

[Gauthier]

Drug tests should be used for people on welfare. It is disgusting that so many druggies and losers are able to make it through society by using taxpayers money to support their addiction. I have seen it. They don't find work, they just sit around on their ass so they won't have to find work. They drink, smoke and use drugs. You should be forced to take a drug test for welfare so average people aren't ripped off and it is used for people looking for work. http://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/ ... nce-abuse/ Drug abuse caused poverty. I think we should be cutting off those leeches so they have to find normal jobs which would reduce poverty.

What do you think? Should drugs test be needed for welfare?

Rick Scott, is that you?

[Arlen Sanglere]

Drug tests should be used for people on welfare. It is disgusting that so many druggies and losers are able to make it through society by using taxpayers money to support their addiction. I have seen it. They don't find work, they just sit around on their ass so they won't have to find work. They drink, smoke and use drugs. You should be forced to take a drug test for welfare so average people aren't ripped off and it is used for people looking for work. http://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/ ... nce-abuse/ Drug abuse caused poverty. I think we should be cutting off those leeches so they have to find normal jobs which would reduce poverty.

What do you think? Should drugs test be needed for welfare?

Rick Scott, is that you?

Who's Rick Scott?

[United Marxist Nations]

If drug tests were free, I would be for it, but the principle of the matter is not enough to compensate for the fact that it is a waste of funds.

[Faustian Fantasies]

[
Unless you are talking about Poppy seeds, I see no reasons why they wouldn't.

Drug abuse is distinct from drug addiction. The former does not always lead to the latter.

[Arlen Sanglere]

[
Unless you are talking about Poppy seeds, I see no reasons why they wouldn't.

Drug abuse is distinct from drug addiction. The former does not always lead to the latter.

Unfortunately, drug abuse still supports the people who cause drug addiction; drug dealers.

[Neutraligon]

It's also unconstitutional according to the Supreme Court of Florida because it constitutes unreasonable search. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/us/politics/court-strikes-down-drug-tests-for-florida-welfare-applicants.html?_r=0

It's not unconstitutional In Australia fortunately.

No, because states that have tried it found that most welfare recipients passed the drug test. I think the cost of administering the test was enough so they didn't save money.

There are some other people on NS who are more well-read on the subject than I am, so we'll have to see if they weigh in with more info.

It removes people that abuse the system which is the point of it. You don't want the state paying for people's drug habits.

And again it costs far more than it saves. So basically in one place you have people paying a small amount for the drug habit (no testing) and in the other you have people paying a far larger sum for people's drug habits(testing).

[House of Judah]

Drug tests should be used for people on welfare. It is disgusting that so many druggies and losers are able to make it through society by using taxpayers money to support their addiction. I have seen it. They don't find work, they just sit around on their ass so they won't have to find work. They drink, smoke and use drugs. You should be forced to take a drug test for welfare so average people aren't ripped off and it is used for people looking for work. http://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/ ... nce-abuse/ Drug abuse caused poverty. I think we should be cutting off those leeches so they have to find normal jobs which would reduce poverty.

What do you think? Should drugs test be needed for welfare?

The test themselves are almost universally a waste, in the US at least they are unconstitutional, and it builds on a system of poor-shaming.

[Faustian Fantasies]

Drug abuse is distinct from drug addiction. The former does not always lead to the latter.

Unfortunately, drug abuse still supports the people who cause drug addiction; drug dealers.

That may be true, but your original statement was that people who fail the tests need to be put in rehab.

[Bodobol]

Rick Scott, is that you?

Who's Rick Scott?

Governor of Florida, who briefly drug tested welfare recipients, only to find that a mere 2.6% of those tested failed. The costs of drug testing in this instance far outweigh the benefits.

[USS Monitor]

Drug abuse is distinct from drug addiction. The former does not always lead to the latter.

Unfortunately, drug abuse still supports the people who cause drug addiction; drug dealers.

This testing wouldn't end the drug trade, though. Lots of people use drugs and are not on welfare, so there would still be a market for drugs.

[Costa Fierro]

I think there should be drug tests on welfare recipients. Not so the government can stop giving welfare payments but identify and help individuals who are suffering from addiction, which is likely why they're on welfare in the first place.

[Grave_n_idle]

Drug tests should be used for people on welfare. It is disgusting that so many druggies and losers are able to make it through society by using taxpayers money to support their addiction. I have seen it. They don't find work, they just sit around on their ass so they won't have to find work. They drink, smoke and use drugs. You should be forced to take a drug test for welfare so average people aren't ripped off and it is used for people looking for work. http://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/ ... nce-abuse/ Drug abuse caused poverty. I think we should be cutting off those leeches so they have to find normal jobs which would reduce poverty.

What do you think? Should drugs test be needed for welfare?

It's one of those ideas that gets trotted out every so often as part of the let's-find-someone-to-blame political cycle.

It's a pointless idea. As others have pointed out, it's ridiculously expensive compared to what it might save.

I don't care if welfare recipients do drugs. I don't even care if they work. They can still provide important input to a functioning society, and there's no point constantly trying to force reality into a different shape when there's really no NEED for it.