Should People Who Receive Government Assistance Undergo Drug Tests?

Meth, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin are among the top drugs that many people use and utilized as money making tactics. As we all know, drugs are found and they are heavily used in low income areas, not only do they pose a significant effect on one’s health but they pose a significant effect on our economy. Generally it is perceived that those who reside in low income areas are the ones who resort to drugs, evidently they are. Likewise, they are also the ones who are assumed to be enlisted on government assistance programs. Some of these programs include; health care, child care, ebt benefits, and even housing assistance programs. So the substantial question is “Should people who receive government assistance undergo drug tests?”

Although the government may have their suspicions on testing individuals who they provide assistance to, I feel that they shouldn’t drug test the individuals who are receiving assistance. Though, drug testing the individual seems as it would be a quaint idea, the cost of the tests stand as an issue. Rosenfeld discusses in his article that most drugs can leave a person’s system in about two to three days. Furthermore, it has become quite common today that majority of the drugs that people utilize drugs stay in a person’s systems for a few weeks to a few months (i.e. marijuana).While taking this thought into mind; it shows how the drugs tests won’t be accurate. Simply because, many people will try to beat the test by attempting to cleanse their system in order to receive their benefits.

These tests place a stereotypical viewpoint and they antagonize the low income citizens (Rosenfeld). Even though, people state that the testing would be a violation of Amendment 4, they stand correct an...

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...ile a lawsuit against the government. The government is trying to do this to create budget cuts due to the fact that they could be investing the money elsewhere.

Works Cited

Besonen, Mark. "Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients: Pro." The Concordian. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.

"Growing Support for Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients." The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 Feb. 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2014

Rosenfield, Derek. "It Makes NO Sense to Drug Test People Who Apply for Government Financial Assistance." Drug Policy Alliance. N.p., 17 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

Sulzberger, A. G. "States Adding Drug Test as Hurdle for Welfare." The New York Times. The New York Times, 10 Oct. 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

Williamson, Jason. "Florida Cannot Drug Test People Simply Because They’re Poor." American Civil Liberties Union. N.p., 02 Jan. 2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.