Should Drug Testing Be Mandatory Essay

Drug testing should be made mandatory for people receiving welfare benefits. This could potentially give any welfare recipients on drugs, the incentive to find a job, or go back to school and get off of drugs. Some also see it as extra incentive for those in lower socioeconomic classes to stay off drugs in the first place.(HRF Pros and Cons of Drug Testing Welfare Recipients) Drug testing could save the government and taxpayers money. Many states have already started drug testing on welfare recipients. States that have less money are less likely to provide mandatory drug testing. Therefore, welfare recipients should not rely on money from the government to pay for drugs.

Drug testing welfare recipients could save the government and taxpayers …show more content…
In Arkansas, it is mandatory for a welfare applicant to submit to drug testing. If they do not pass, or refuse the test, they do not qualify for benefits. A person testing positive can still receive benefits if they comply with a treatment plan. (NCSL Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients and Public Assistance)

People who oppose drug testing for welfare recipients think they are denying children and families benefits. If you look at it from another perspective, the drug user is also denying their family of a healthy lifestyle. We owe it to the children and non drug using members of the family to be able to live a life free of drugs.

Even though drug testing is a cost to taxpayers, it gives people who request welfare benefits the incentive to not use drugs and possibly get help to stay off of drugs. The bottom line is that while drug testing welfare recipients may cost taxpayers a little more in the beginning. This could potentially get some drug abusers off the streets and give others the incentive to go out and look for a job. In the end, it could give the government extra funding to help the ones who truly need the benefits to get