Should you be required to pass a drug test before getting welfare?

That makes sense!

Yes I agree with you, I'm sure it is going to raise a bunch of issues about privacy etc... but i think drug testing any person receiving welfare/government benefits would help stop the misuse of monies that's meant to help families in need, not families with a need . Sadly those who fail the drug tests are still in need of help, so hopefully if they ever do decide to test for drugs, they thought about the ramifications of punishing these people in a way where their children wont have to go hungry or be homeless because of their parents drug habits.

Absolutely!!!

If I have to take a drug test to get a job to pay the taxes that are distributed to people who sit at home and collect welfare, they should have to test clean to be able to collect that money that I have to test clean to have taken away from me in taxes..

If they want my money, I want proof they are not using it to party on and get high..

Just more proof that our government is in a sad state and is not getting any better...

Welfare should be a strict program with the same rules as being on parole....

This is another reason I believe it is only fair to the rest of America : I have a chronic, debilitating disorder. I am on medications to controll the pain wich do not get me "high" or give me a "buzz"..they simply keep my pain in controll so I can function and work full time to support myself. I do not get disability and I have never even thought of just sitting home and appling for welfare. As long as I can walk and move, I will continue to support myself. I have been unemployed for 2 weeks because of a drug test. I am sitting here, waiting for a medical examiner to reexamine my urine to verify that my failed drug test was due to the exacy medication I am on and the exact amount that is supposed to be there. I have legal documents from my physician stating that I an legally prescribed these medications and am not in any way impaired on them. Is this fair or right that I sit here and wait, while going broke and not being able to pay my bills, just because I want to do something for myself and work a full time job that I am highly qualified for... If I wanted to collect welfare, I could just walk into the office, fill out a few papers, and instantly get my bills paid..

It just makes no sense to me.. My pre-employment drug screen showed no sign of any use of any illegal substances..so I am forced by our government to suffer..

Any idea how much it costs for a drug test? Not cheap at all. With the economy in the toilet...what a slap in the face to people who have worked all their lives, fallen on hard times and THEN be subjected to a drug test. Let me guess...is that in the state that wanted to stop the stores in the state from selling of the Barbie dolls?

If you need welfare (a program set out to help those who can't afford to buy groceries or provide essentials for the family) then you should not have money to be buying drugs. People do abuse programs like welfare and WIC, but a drug test would be a good idea to weed out those who are finding money to buy drugs but not money to buy groceries. There are free rehab programs.

Perhaps, but here is the problem. First off drug tests are not free and will end up costing even more in taxes. Second if someone is so addicted to drugs that they can't stay off long enough to pass a drug test (3 days for most narcotics) then they are not likely to have the ambition to even go apply for welfare. Otherwise you have to test every month costing even more money.

People receiving government assistance should be made to do a great deal of things. Besides the drug screens, they should be obligated to seek a high school GED, some job training skills, training. So we don't just alleviate the problem for a moment. But also give the skills to encourage self dependence. Great question. God bless****

I just received an email about that! A guy says that he has to be tested for his job, his taxes pay into welfare, shouldn't they be tested to pick up a check? FREAKING YES! I can see the protest lines starting to form.....

I think michigan use to make people take a drug test to get welfare, but our wonderful governor decided that you couldn't do that because that was against people's right! I totally agree that people should have to take that test to find out if they are doign drugs or not, you know, I have seen some people that are gettign help but you know they do drugs, and they have money in their pockets but their drugs are more important than their children's needs. If the don't do drugs you know if they do make money its not going to the wrong place!

I would've thought that the govt already does that...at least on the people that look like they might be addicted to controlled substances.

But if they don't, they definitely should...I don't want my money being shot up someones arm; the same guy that'll probably rob me if he got the chance.

However, there's one thing you need to keep in mind. Drug testing isn't cheap. The govt could take this money from the welfare fund...but that'll only aggravate the poor as they're hardly getting much now. So where will this extra money come from? You got it...US. We'll bear the burden and be forced to pay more in taxes.

Frankly, I don't want to pay more in taxes. So I say that we just carry on as we are.

Exactly! Your point is perfect. A drug test before, and maybe even during. Every 6 months or so?