Pros And Cons Of Mandatory Drug Testing

In the world of public policy and legislation, the question of whether or not to require drug testing for welfare patients is divisive and emotionally charged. Both sides fight hand and foot for their side, and the end result is a vicious battle for legal authority. Laws requiring drug testing for welfare patients are also becoming more popular. As of May 2016, at least 17 states were in the process of creating drug testing legislation for welfare patients, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some of the pros to drug testing for welfare patients would be, Prudent use of taxpayer dollars. Few individuals whose taxes fund the welfare system would be amenable to the idea of their tax dollars helping individuals on welfare buy drugs, and so advocates of mandatory drug

Mandatory drug testing helps identify individuals who can benefit from substance abuse treatment so they can receive help and will, according to drug testing advocates, save money in the long-term. Alternative drug testing methodologies exist. Even if wholesale drug testing of all welfare applicants is not proving to be cost-effective, it is possible to restructure policy so that, for example, only individuals who are suspected of drug abuse will be tested. Precedent in the job market. Members of state legislatures have argued that drug testing is often required by employers, so it is reasonable to also require drug testing for welfare patients. Discouraging long-term welfare use. Adding more requirements for keeping benefits encourages individuals to find work and escape the paperwork and other necessities of maintaining welfare. These include the fact that this move could possibly save the government money by taking drug addicts off welfare programs. Some also see it as extra incentive for those in lower socioeconomic classes to stay off drugs in the first