The Pros And Cons Of Food Stamps

Food stamps have been a topic of debate among Americans for years. Many people claim that food stamps allow unhealthy habits, and that these should not be permitted. However, there are many reasons as to why food stamps are beneficial to many communities and should not have restrictions placed on them. Over the years, many Americans have argued that food stamps should not be used to purchase junk food, but most of these reasons can easily be countered. While there is federal money set aside to encourage people to buy healthy items with food stamps (Fifield), the opposition’s other claims appear weak and refutable. For example, when they claim that areas with higher rates of poverty have higher rates of mental health problems (Fifield), they are wrong because this is unreliable information; most likely the percentage of people with mental health issues is the same nationwide, while areas of lower income are not as able to afford proper treatment as areas with a higher income. In continuation, many of these low-income areas have little to no access to fresh food (Fifield). Additionally, they it would be far too costly and complicated to

In a study by the American Psychiatric Association, it was discovered that more than twice as many areas of high-income households had specialty mental health management resources compared to that of low-income communities (Cohen). Additionally, over 35% of households in higher earning areas had therapist practices compared to only 13% of homes in lower earning communities (Cohen). Furthermore, Cohen states that gaps in geographic accessibility to mental health treatment recourses exist in vulnerable communities and policymakers should consider bolstering recourses for healthcare in these areas. Meaning that higher rates of mental health issues are not due to overconsumption of junk food, but a lack of proper