The War on Drugs has become a war on the poor. Instead of helping lift the destitute out of poverty with compassionate and sensible economic policies, drug laws target the poor, trapping them in a vicious cycle of poverty and disempowerment. Drug testing welfare recipients is just one example of how our drug laws single out the poor.

Myth 1 - Welfare recipients are more likely to use drugs than non-welfare recipients, thereby justifying random drug testing for welfare recipients.

Fact 1 - A wealth of evidence demonstrates that welfare recipients and other adults use drugs at similar rates.

According to a 1996 study by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, differences between the proportion of welfare and non-welfare recipients using illegal drugs are not statistically significant. In each case, the national average for drug use fell within the range of the welfare population that has been found to use illegal drugs.

Before the Michigan policy was halted, only 10% of recipients tested positive for illicit drugs. Only 3% tested positive for hard drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines. This is similar, if not lower, to rates of illicit drug use in the general population.

More parents with an income 300% or more above the poverty line have used drugs than parents whose income is below the poverty line.

Myth 2 - Mandatory drug testing programs are an easy way to make sure state welfare money is not being spent in the wrong way.

Fact 2 - Many states initially considered mandatory drug testing of welfare recipients, but did not implement them for various reasons, including financial considerations.

New York and Maryland originally intended to require random drug testing for those receiving welfare. They discarded their drug testing plans after finding that a program of questionnaires is more cost-effective.

Louisiana passed a law in 1997 requiring drug testing for welfare recipients. However, a task force set up to implement the law decided that more limited drug testing of individuals identified by a questionnaire is more cost-effective than mandatory drug testing.

Certain counties in Oregon experimented with drug testing on some welfare recipients. The process was halted when it was found that drug testing was less effective in identifying drug abuse than through less invasive methods.

Alabama decided against drug testing because it found that focusing on job training programs was a more effective method of moving individuals off of welfare.

Iowa decided against drug testing welfare recipients since it could not include a test for alcohol abuse, which is more prevalent than illicit drug abuse. The state found other methods to be more cost-effective.

Myth 3 - Drug use among those on welfare often leads to continuing unemployment and child neglect and abuse. Testing for drugs is the best way to find and fix these problems.

Fact 3 - A focus on drug testing distracts from other problems that contribute to unemployment and child neglect more than drug use. For example, far more welfare recipients have psychological disorders than drug problems. Additionally, drug testing does not differentiate between drug use and drug abuse. A positive result in a drug test does not necessarily identify a drug problem.

A study published in January 2001 by the University of Michigan found that drug testing is not an efficient or cost-effective way of testing for psychological disorders. Data analysis concluded that 4% of those on welfare were seen as drug dependent. Yet, 7-9% tested positive for drug use, despite not showing any drug dependence problem. Even more overwhelmingly, 21-22% did not test positive for drug use, but exhibited signs of alcohol dependence or psychological disorders.

26 states have chosen to use alternative methods to drug testing, including questionnaires and observational methods. These methods are not only less intrusive, but more effective. An Oklahoma study found that a questionnaire was able to accurately detect 94 out of 100 drug abusers. The questionnaire was also useful in detecting alcohol abusers, something drug tests fail to accomplish.

Myth 4 - Welfare drug testing is a limited use of drug testing laws. Drug testing of welfare recipients could not be applied to other groups.

Fact 4 - If random drug testing for welfare recipients was permitted, it could eventually lead to a vast expansion of drug testing.

In halting the implementation of Michigan's drug testing law, U.S. District Court Judge Victoria Roberts ruled that the state's rationale for testing welfare recipients ""could be used for testing the parents of all children who received Medicaid, State Emergency Relief, educational grants or loans, public education or any other benefit from that State.""

It is surprising you have no problem with the very wealthy stealing and drugging, and yes taking your hard earn money, but OMG don't let anyone poor come knocking on my door. Wake up, don't believe the propaganda they sling, telling you how the most needy of this nation is living off your tax dollars, the fact is, they get very little money, putting all the money that goes into TANF is a mere drop in the bucket compared to the welfare that goes to the wealthy 1% of this country, why not start drug testing them, they want freebies they should be subject to the same rules as the rest of us. That of course won't happen, it sickens me that they are getting away with this. If we want to save money once again start at the top, that is where the most money is given away, your hard earned tax money, so they can ride in private jets, send their children to the best schools, while vacationing in Europe. Yet we are focusing on the very poor. We need to stand together and say stop this madness and focus our eyes on the 1% of the population who are running this whole show.
slavetopot Reviewed by slavetopot on . States Consider Drug Tests for Welfare Recipients Agree or disagree? Personally I think they should test for everything including weed and if you test positive, revoke the benefits. The way I see it, if you are collecting tax payer money to live, you can't afford $25-100 a quarter. The only exception being if you live in a state that has legalized medical use and have a prescription. Drugs are a luxury and should be used by those who can afford them. From FoxNews.com: Rating: 5