Persuasive Essay On Drug Testing Welfare

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“Welfare is the fastest growing part of government spending. Between 1989 and fiscal year 2008, mean-tested welfare spending increased by 292 percent.” (The Heritage Foundation, Web) Roughly 12,800,000 Americans, which is 4.1% of those living in the United States are on welfare or some form of government assistance. The United States government spends $131.9 billion on welfare annually, not including food stamps and unemployment. $1 trillion annually are spent throughout all 83 government assistance programs. All people receiving government assistance should be drug tested randomly to prove that they truly need the help and that they are not just using and abusing the system. Welfare is government programs that help and provide money and …show more content…
In the past few years, drug testing has gained a lot of traction around the country. States like Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi, and North Carolina, along with others have cracked down on this issue. One thing that all of these states have in common with their laws is that if an adult test positive for illegal drugs they will lose their benefits but the child(ren) will not. That money will be paid through a protective payee to the child(ren). Alabama law states that applicants and certain recipients, upon reasonable suspicion of illegal substance will undergo different screenings and test for detection of illegal drugs. If any person refuses to take a test, then their benefits can be denied. The first positive screening will result in a warning of losing benefits. A second positive screening will result in the loss of benefits. Mississippi law requires all applicants for Temporary Assistance of Needy Families (TANF) to complete a written questionnaire to determine the likely hood of drug or substance use. If the results show that the applicant is more likely to use substances than not they will have to submit to a drug test. If the applicant tests positive, they must comply with an approved substance abuse program and test negative at the end of the treatment plan. If the applicant refuses to participate in the treatment plan or otherwise does not comply, their benefit will be

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