Should Welfare and Medicaid recipients be requird to take drug tests?

[Tresbn00]

That is the current rule and I heard some people on the radio who were opposed to it.  Heck, if I have to take a drug test to get and keep a job why shouldn't other people have to be exposed to the same routine to get free benefits? The argument was that the children of people on welfare are the ones that suffer when the parents are unable to pass  drug test. The counter point was that the children should be taken into protective custody if their parents are doing illegal drugs.  What do you think?

[zanger09]

I think that they should have to take drug tests. They are getting free money! They should be able to meet the requirements or go and find the money from another source. People that are on drugs don't deserve the money anyways.

[keith74]

I get help with medical exspenses through this progam and I agree drug test should be a must some people have to take them to keep there jobs so why not the benefits through the welfare system.  Naturally there are people who take medications that might show up but as long as they have a prescription from a doctor it shouldn't be a problem.  To many people abuse the welfare system and use the money to buy drugs and drink that is wrong.  I see people all the time who get there disability and use there money to buy drugs and drink so that is another program that needs drug testing.

[Storm61115]

yes coz cracked out people get link and help from their state and i know this for a fact from seeing cracked out people with link cards. i think they should take a drug test coz if they can afford their drugs they can afford food and get off the drugs and make themselves clean.

[dwg300]

I agree that they should be required to take drug tests.  One of my jobs require that anyone that is injured on the job must take a drug test.  If it's posative they lose their job.  If anyone on welfare tests positive they lose their benifits and their children should be taken away.  Isn't welfare there to help individuals that can't get a job?  If they can't get a job because of drug issues then they shouldn't be able to receive welfare.  Just my 2 cents.

[ajann1983]

i agree to the drug testing. some people sell their food stamps for cash so that they can buy alcohol, cigs, and drugs. with drug testing in effect it will help to make sure people that are really in need are able to get the benefits.

[monnee]

Yes, if you have to take a drug test to get a job, the same should apply to Welfare and Medicaid recipients.

[CHANEYLAKEGIRL]

I agree with all of you. They should have to take drug tests to receive the benefits.

[margaret0524]

I believe the recipients should be required to take drug tests.   Do you think only American citizens should be able to get Welfare and Medicaid?   Should illegal immigrants should get better health care than American citizens?

[lbeery]

That is really interesting.  But, then, we'd have to pay for thier drug testing too.  Well, the one that I just found out about was that the govt is givng free cell phones and service to medicare patients!!!!!! I had to cancel mine cause I couldn't afford to keep it.  Can't wait to get old and dependent, but probably it will have all come crashing down by then.

[noirlupe]

I think they should have drug tests.  When I was a cashier in a grocery store what really bugged me was watching them take their groceries out to their care and they were driving an expensive care and I lived paycheck to paycheck (even with 2 jobs) an had a cheap, economical used car.

[r0bb]

That is the current rule and I heard some people on the radio who were opposed to it.  Heck, if I have to take a drug test to get and keep a job why shouldn't other people have to be exposed to the same routine to get free benefits? The argument was that the children of people on welfare are the ones that suffer when the parents are unable to pass  drug test. The counter point was that the children should be taken into protective custody if their parents are doing illegal drugs.  What do you think?

Actually you're wrong on that being a current rule... I think they're trying hard to make it that way, and I don't blame them although I agree and disagree with it. It's crazy hard to even find a job now and so many require drug tests, that people "cheat" to pass, yet there are so many people on multiple drugs that get paid to just sit at home. I think they should do random drug tests and if you're collecting money from the government, and if you test positive for like weed, and/or alcohol they should just cut you off, but if you test positive for heroine, cocaine, or crack and the such, instead of cut you off, since they have control of their money they should use it to put them in a low cost rehab, and in a way cut them off,but help them at the same time. and once they're clean put them in a job placement program.

On the same token though, it's crazy how fast welfare and the such can get someone a job through their job placement programs, but unemployment either doesn't try, or simply can not get people a job.

[lvstephanie]

That is the current rule and I heard some people on the radio who were opposed to it.  Heck, if I have to take a drug test to get and keep a job why shouldn't other people have to be exposed to the same routine to get free benefits? The argument was that the children of people on welfare are the ones that suffer when the parents are unable to pass  drug test. The counter point was that the children should be taken into protective custody if their parents are doing illegal drugs.  What do you think?

Actually you're wrong on that being a current rule... I think they're trying hard to make it that way, and I don't blame them although I agree and disagree with it. [....]

There is no Federal law requiring testing yet, however I believe there are now two states that require drug testing, Florida being the latest signed into law early this summer. And I heard that in Indiana, instead of requiring drug testing, they have the recipients sign an affidavit affirming that they are not using illegal drugs, and if caught can be imprisoned for committing perjury in addition to drug possession charges.

I think this is a good law... I also think that it should be extended to any drug-related charges. You shouldn't be able to collect wellfare if you are also just selling drugs (although not using them), or have them in your possession.

[mmahnen]

I agree ~ absolutely drug test should be required.  Even if we pay for the testing, it would weed out so many that it would say so much in the long run !!!

[mmahnen]

*SAVE* so much in the long run...