English 1101
Dr. Nash/Term3
Should the government drug test for food stamps and other low income assistance programs?
Freewrite Questions
General questions
What are food stamps?
What do these tests do?
Who is targeted with the tests?
Are there any punishments for those who test positive?
Drug Addicts
What if many test positive?
How will this impact on the treatment programs?
Negative impacts of the drug tests
What impacts will it have on kids?
What impact will it have on the families receiving the food stamps and other low income assistance programs?
What is the public view?
Tax pays
How will these tests affect the taxpayer?
Is there any possible way to reduce the effect on the taxpayer?
Benefits of the tests
Are there any advantages to conducting these tests?
Do the benefits outweigh the negative elements?
Freewrite
It is surprising to read in articles how much discussion is dedicated to the notion of compulsory drug testing for any person who is on welfare. It seems that, at this time of high need and unemployment, many people believe that drug tests should be routine and that if people are to claim welfare, it must be under the condition that they are clean of recreational drugs. However, the introduction of such tests is not justified as it is expensive, unethical and unhelpful to all concerned.
The Supplementary Assistance Program is an important support system which provides millions of people with food. They provide beneficiaries with the capacity to reduce the cost of the nutritious foods that they need.
Drug tests show whether an individual has one or more illegal and/or prescription drugs in their urine and these tests determine whether the person qualifies for food stamps and other low income assistance programs. The tests can detect if a person has abused drugs such as opiates, marijuana, antidepressants and cocaine, among others. The test results are not given to the police and there are no punishments to the offenders. Rather, they are simply intended to prevent drug abusers from accessing public assistance.
A number of questions remain unanswered. Firstly, if the government tests individuals who are seeking assistance and, in turn, identify people who test positive to the drugs test, it means they will need to be enrolled in treatment programs. This is the only way to help a drug addict so that he or she can become clean again. However, since there are limited places on such treatment programs, what will the government do should they find large numbers of people addicted to unlawful drugs?
Secondly, if the government were to go ahead with this plan, what will happen to the children of adults who test positive? If young children or teenagers are dependent on welfare, they could lose access to food and welfare if their parents are found to be drug users, which poses difficulties in the ethics of the scheme.
A number of people have already complained about this bill. They see this kind of law as one that is intended to disgrace, dehumanize and marginalize the poor. In fact, it is like telling the poor that you don’t like them and that they should just remain poor. Those who support this bill are viewed by many as obsessed by greed, fear and suspicion as they are, arguably, denying under privileged people with their basic human right to nutrition and an acceptable quality of life.
The introduction of this law, on face value at least, seems reasonable. After all, every worker is required to undergo a drugs test if they are to apply for work or maintain their jobs.
However, public health organizations and civil liberties have found that these drugs tests will cost taxpayers more revenue than it will bank, which is a problem. Nevertheless, something with weaknesses must also have positives. Republican James Summers was quoted in Congress explaining that as much as it won’t create or save taxpayers money, it will influence the beneficiaries to be willing, and to be able to get jobs and work since they will be out of the assistance program.
Following the findings in this freewrite, I think the government is not justified to go ahead with drug test for food stamps and other low income assistance programs.
