Our country is experiencing a major drug crisis As of right now, 13 states have adopted policies involving drug testing for welfare. Each state has a different policy, and handles drug testing in different ways. West Virginia has a three offense policy. The first time a welfare recipient tests positive for drugs, he/she will be able to keep the benefits but will be required to attend job encouragement and rehabilitation programs. The second offense consists of the recipient losing his/her benefits for up to a year, and continuing the programs. The third time the recipient tests positive, he/she will lose all benefits. Drug testing for welfare could save taxpayers money in the long term. Eliminating drug abusers from …show more content…
Companies want their employees drug free in order to receive a paycheck. Welfare recipients should also be drug free to receive their benefits. It is a normal part of life to be drug free. On the other hand, drug testing for welfare has its cons. To start with, some people may feel discriminated. Although there are many people who are drug tested in order to have a job, not everyone is. Making everyone eligible for welfare undergo drug testing could be considered discrimination against the poor, based on the assumption that they are a drug user just because they don’t make a lot of money. The biggest con against trust testing for welfare, is that if one loses their benefits, the child of the person will lose them too. By requiring drug testing of parents who are on welfare and not receiving direct benefits, there could be a lot of children who won’t receive benefits that they may rightly deserve under the law. Chances are if a parent is buying drugs, the child is not receiving the amount they deserve. If a parent can not manage their drug addiction, they may possibly put their child at risk for malnourishment, or even abuse. If that is the case, and a parent is unfit and incompetent, they should lose all