Essay On Welfare Drug Testing

Words: 1598
Pages: 7

Drug testing on Welfare recipients has been a controversial issue in the U.S., both federally and state wide. Recently, two states have mandated the use of suspicion-less drug testing which has been disputed constitutionally. Nonetheless, other forms of drug testing have been allowed to flourish, with the decision being made and guided by the lower courts. (Carpenter, 2015) In order to gain an understanding of the psychology of how drug testing affects the lives of individuals, we must first understand the system.
The reason why drug-testing welfare recipients is problematic is because it largely restricts the number of people that are eligible for government benefits, due to the consumption of illicit drugs. Furthermore, it represents a double-standard amongst the wealthy and the poor, because drug-testing is only applicable to welfare recipients; and not to government officials that receive other forms of similar compensation. It is also believed that “Suspicion-less” drug testing was unconstitutional on the grounds that it violates the fourth amendment, which, added a different dynamic in regards to the controversy of drug testing on Welfare in general. (Carpenter, 2015) Yet, the reason why drug-testing on Welfare is believed to be advantageous, is because it dwindles the number of individuals
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It is our civil duty to endorse Welfare, but in the realms of our control. Taxpayers are compelled to help the underprivileged, but the destitute should also cooperate within the boundaries that are set fourth by taxpayers, and with the knowledge that welfare is not a permanent fix. However, drug abuse is a common-place issue among welfare recipients. Not to mention, the maintenance of Welfare is approaching $1 trillion per year, which means that taxpayers should have knowledge about where their money is going, and be able to monitor who is using it to empower themselves and who is abusing funds. (Rector,