Drug Testing For Welfare

Many know the stereotypes of recipients of welfare. Those of the "welfare queens" that live off welfare and ultimately end up spending the money on their next fix drug fixes. So the idea of drug testing applicants before supplying them with welfare money seems like a pretty good idea, right? But will this honestly help? Will this reduce the number of recipients using welfare to supply their drug addictions? When considering drug testing applicants one must take into account the costs of this proposal, the truth behind recipients of welfare, and the morals of these recipients.

The idea of drug testing applicants of welfare could potentially lower the rate of drug addicts using welfare to supply their addictions. But on the flip side, it could also cause money issues when it came to the cost of administering the drug test in the first place. In 2009, about four million Americans were on welfare. One drug test costs about 42 dollars. Times that 42 dollars by four million Americans and suddenly you're at a bill of over 168 million dollars! In one year about 191 million dollars was spent of welfare. They budget for welfare would almost double just by adding a seemingly easy application requirement. America is in a recession. We surely don't need to add an extra 168 million dollars on top of the billions of debt money we owe! While considering the cost, also think about the people who receive welfare.

Yes there are stereotypes about poor people. The most prominent one is the drug addict. But how many people receiving welfare checks really are drug addicts looking for their next hit? Truth is, not many. According to studies, when a drug test was administered to applicants of welfare in Florida, almost 98% of applicants passed. So who really receives welfare? Hard working, financially challenged, family bearing Americans. People with families, trying to scrape by, provide for the family, keep a roof over their heads, food on their tables, and often all while being unemployed. When taking this into account, one must also consider the morals of these recipients.

The recipients of welfare are not who you think they are. In fact, they are just like you. Sometimes they are even more emotionally strong and faith bond than most middle and upper class Americans. They hold on to every last thing they can. They do not quit even when things get tough. They rely on the good will of others and their pure faith to keep them in good health, day by day. Coming from a lower middle class family and having experienced just how tough it is to get by with one parent unemployed, I can assure you the recipients of welfare are good, deserving people. When my family was in the worst state, when my mother was unemployed and my father worked two jobs just to keep us afloat, things like heating assistance and the good will of others was the things that made life easier. The idea of either of my parents having to be drug tested to receive help is absolutely mortifying to me. Think about how degrading it is to admit you cannot support a family, then you must face reality that your fellow Americans feel you are a type of social scum and don't trust how you'll spend their money? That feeling must truly feel utterly embarrassing and downright terrible.