Drug Testing Myths

There are different aspect to the welfare system. There is food stamps, TANF, Medicaid, and other type’s public assistance. There is some myths to people that are receiving the public assistance, one of these being that families getting help tend to have a lot of children. The truth is that 37% of the people receiving TANF only have one child. And 27% of families receiving TANF has two children (Koppelman, 2005, p.219). Another myth that families that receive public assistance is lazy or will still on public assistance forever (Koppelman. 2005, p.219). These myths that people have believed over the years has made it hard for the system to progress in the proper way. In the past a recipient of welfare did not have to provide information that …show more content…
14). There are people who would even argue that having recipients being drug tested would be ruled unconstitutional and not cost effective. The 6th Circuit court had ruled that similar drug testing laws violated the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Caitlin). There are strong supporters for drug testing the recipients of public assistance. These supporter seem to want recipients to undergo random drug screening to be able to receive public assistance. This was decided because about 20 percent of people receiving TANF has used and illegal drug in the last year. The strongest supports of government programs want to help support people but, does not want people to have a lifelong dependency. (Vitter, 2011, p. …show more content…
In Arizona they used drug test that costed an average of $23.14 a test this was paid for by the department. The state only paid $68.79 that year for drug test for TANF recipients, this was not many test done. Even with these test done the state was able to save $110,820. One recipient lost 560 dollars for testing positive. Another lost 360 dollars because they did not complete the drug test. Another $109,900 lost by 847 new adult recipients who were disqualified for not completing the illegal drug statement. Also in Arizona it is believed that if a recipient is given a couple day noticed that they are more likely able to cheat on a drug test, so they are more likely to give short notice (Caitlin). Since 2009 Arizona an illegal drug use statement helps to decide if they are going to run a drug test on the recipient that is going to apply. Some of the questions that is on this statement is asking if they have lost a job or been denied a job due to drug use in the past thirty days. Also if the recipient had legal trouble due to drug use in the past thirty days. If any recipients answer yes to these question they are disqualified for 12 months if a drug test comes back positive. The purpose of this it to stop the fraud and the abuse within the program (Caitlin). If the screening of drug testing is required then this would be able to help the recipients get the help they needed to be