Mandatory Drug Testing Research Paper

Imagine a world where drug addicts aren’t enabled, more people have jobs, and children grow up with food on the table. All of these things could be a reality if drug testing was required to become a welfare recipient. Welfare has become more accepted by mainstream American society, with more than 15% of the country taking advantage of it.

THESIS: Monthly drug testing for people who apply for welfare should be necessary.

II Reason # 1 for your side (put main reason here):

Welfare and government aid is intended to be temporary and reciprocal.

List the facts/stats/quotes you find online here:

“If taxpayers are required to give part of their earnings to people who are in need, it would be reasonable to expect that the people
List out One or Two of their facts (fact/stat that supports other side)

Opponents of drug testing laws argue that requiring drug testing for welfare recipients reinforces the belief that welfare beneficiaries are addicts and drug users, or mentally ill.

Now, list out arguments that DISPROVE their view (that prove they’re wrong)

“According to Dr. Pollack of the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program, 20% of welfare recipients admit to recent use of illicit drugs…. Mandatory testing would not only hold welfare recipients to the same standard as everybody else, but it also would perform a critical service as a means of assistance for those suffering from psychiatric disorders, medical disorders, and/or abuse problems” (Concordian).

“Of the approximately 5,700 people [from Maine] enrolled in the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, only 15 had been scheduled for screenings through June. Of those 15, only two people actually showed up for the test, and one tested positive for drugs”
Reason # 3 for Your Side:

People become dependant on financial assistance.

“Welfare has become more accepted by mainstream American society, and it has become more of a long term commitment for some. More people than ever are now dependent on government handouts in order to survive, and the workforce is slowly shrinking as people give up looking for jobs and see government assistance as the only way to put food on the table” (Concordian).

“[Drug testing] may make drug users less willing to disclose and therefore keep them from connecting with treatment…’If people are afraid they’ll lose their benefits if they admit to using drugs, it makes it hard for them to say, ‘Hey, actually I have this issue,’ (ThinkProgress)

“Any definition of dependence represents an arbitrary choice of a percentage of income from welfare beyond which families will be considered dependent. But using a single point – in this case 50 percent – yields a relatively straightforward measure that can be tracked easily over time, and is likely to be associated with any large changes in total dependence, however defined”