Pros And Cons Of Welfare Drug Testing

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Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients: Is it Ethical? Kristen Hardbarger University of Arkansas Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients: Is it Ethical? Introduction It is probably safe to say that most people, at one time or another, have been tested for drug use. The most common place drug testing is used is in the workplace (Popple & Leighninger, 2011). For the most part, this idea is accepted by the general population. An employer is going to be paying you to do labor for them or their company, so it only seems right that they be able to test you to ensure that you are clean of any recent drug usage. A fairly new phenomenon in drug testing has emerged. The idea of screening recipients and/or applicants…show more content…
I have personally seen this topic circulating social media sites on several occasions. A very popular argument is that welfare recipients are using the money they receive to fuel their drug addictions. Those supporting the policy feel like if they have to pass a drug test to get their job, which enables them to pay their taxes and support welfare, then welfare recipients should have to pass a drug test in order to receive “their” (the taxpayer’s)…show more content…
This value is defined by the idea of putting others before you. With this being the most important goal, there should be more of a focus on getting help to families who are lacking basic needs like food and shelter, which is what the main welfare programs provide. The main issue here is that many of the families seeking welfare have children whose interests are of greatest importance. If people are denied assistance due to drug use, their children suffer. In the instance that a mother is abusing drugs and applying for welfare, she probably isn’t adequately caring for her children in the first place due to the drug usage. Denying welfare assistance because she is on drugs only puts more of a burden on the children. As social workers, it is our responsibility to ensure that, first and foremost, the most important social needs are being met before thinking about other social problems like drug usage and allocation of tax

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