Mandating Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients (Essay Sample)

Mandating Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients
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Mandating Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients
Introduction
The issue of whether to embrace a mandatory drug testing for recipients has posed a major dilemma in the US. Some parts of the US are supporting the idea, but some other parts have an intense opposition. As critically examined, according to the arguments put forth, one can deduce that indeed the mandatory drug testing is beneficial. It is undoubted that the process is costly, but the idea of ignoring it is much more costly. Looking at how various critics argue, it is evident that the issue of embracing mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients is beneficial. The people who cannot control their degree of substance abuse are only a threat to the wellbeing of an organization. This essay discusses a number of issues on mandatory drug test for welfare recipients. It tackles the role played by the mandatory drug tests for the recipients and various critics' argument concerning the issue critically.
Facts and Findings of Mandatory Drug Test (Claims)
Alcoholism is hazardous; according to the statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, about 87.6% of youth and adults from the age 18 and above tasted alcohol in their life. About 71 % are reported to have tested alcohol in the previous year and 56.3% tested it in the previous month (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2012). According to their statistics, alcoholism is one of the deadliest things compared to other causes of death. Approximately 88,000 individuals die from substance abuse annually. Therefore, this figures show that the issue of drug abuse should not be treated as a joke. The issue of drug test for welfare recipients is also beneficial as much as healthy living is concerned.
From the available statistics, it can be derived that the problem of drug abuse is automatically one of the most escalating menaces in the US. It is mostly prevalent, especially among the welfare populations. The US government has made various attempts to reduce the rate of drug abuse among the health populations. The efforts to curb this catastrophic issue have been rejected in the past by most of the organizations. Some critics have argued that drug and substance abuse is most common among the bachelors and fewer among the single ladies. Many of the recipients have differed with this idea as much as it is beneficial to them. The US government has struggled with the issue of mandatory drug testing. For instance, at some point, the individuals who refused compulsory drug testing were prevented from accessing some federal benefits. The drug testing process may cost the company or organization a lot of money, but it is crucial to test. According to the drug-free Act at workplace that was passed in 1988 by the federal government, it requires that organizations should undergo the mandatory drug tests to receive a grant. On the other hand, drug test can also be used as an avenue to indicate fairness at the workplace.
According to another study conducted by the Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, most cases that result in child mistreatment and abandonment are caused by drug and substance abuse. Their research shows that cocaine is the most abused drug (Jr., J. A. 1999, 2012). According to these findings, it is clearly evident that if drug testing among welfare recipients was embraced, there would be a decline in such cases and it will save the nation the agony of drug and substance abuse. The nation will have a method to control this mayhem hence a drug-free country. Therefore, mandating drug test for welfare recipients is essential.
Evidence Gathered in Favor of Mandatory Drug Test (Data)
The mandatory drug testing is essential to the employers, because it ensures that they do not involve in consumption of illegal drugs at the workplace. Some of the jobs are very vulnerable and require the employees to be very keen. For example, a job that involves driving a truck or a Public Service Vehicle will require the driver to be sober and alert. Therefore, in such a situation, drug testing is essential. It ensures that the public servants do not work under the influence hence show best results. The mandatory drug testing is also critical in saving employers from future problems. After spending the money initially on the test, this will prevent potential and performing employees from indulging in drug abuse that may lead to underperformance at workplace. It will also save the company the cost of compensating the injured employee at the workplace.
Facts that Support the Evidence Gathered (Warrant)
The drug testing process also ensures safety of employees at the workplace. As they undergo the tests, it will ensure that they do not work while under the influence, and the other employees will be protected from the potential catastrophic occurrence that comes as a result of drug and substance abuse. Drug testing is also a requirement by the federal government. Therefore, a company that wishes to receive grants from the federal government has an obligation of conducting the drug test. In addition to this, employees are also not left out because it is clear that to secure a government contract or tender, they ought to undergo the mandatory drug test.
According to Elizabeth Freeman, the justification for fairness argues that some of the organizations in the US undergo the drug test to show tolerance (Freeman, n.d.). She bases her argument on the fact that in the year 2011 the Florida’s state governor required employees in Florida to submit to the idea of drug test. According to the governor, the employee’s salary came from the taxpayers’ money. Therefore, the only way to ensure that the taxpayers do not feel they are funding drug abuse was making the employees spend their dollars in mandatory drug test. Consequently, in terms of fairness, mandatory drug testing for employees was necessary (Freeman, n.d.).
Another established journalist also argued that embracing the mandatory drug testing is the fairest thing to do. He based his facts on grounds that most private and public companies undergo the process as a requirement before resuming a particular job (Walters, 2012). This idea is indeed correct because in ensuring that employees are treated on equal grounds, a fair working environment is necessary. This working condition can only be made fair by mandatory drug test.
Why embracing Mandatory Tests for Welfare workers is Essential (Backing)
According to the findings discussed, it can be evident that the mandatory drug testing is essential in as much as success or prosperity of a company is concerned. Generally, working in an environment of people with the habit of abusing alcohol is quite devastating. Despite the fact that mandatory drug testing involves some cash, it tremendously saves the company against future losses just as Freeman has described it. In addition, Walters’ argument concerning the issue is also valid because he points out on how embracing the idea is beneficial to the mandatory drug test.
In addition to these facts, the US federal government has also recognized the need for mandatory drug test for the welfare recipients. Basing on the report that is derived from the National Poverty Center, it can clearly be deduced that the government’s effort to ensure that the military group and other ordinary employees undergo the drug test is not vain. These people are supposed to test negative against substance abuse. The money spent for the drug test is derived from the taxpayers; therefore, welfare recipients should not find it a big deal to embrace the test (CDC, 2013)
Arguments against Mandatory Drug Test for Welfare Recipients (Counter-claims)
The opposition to mandatory drug test has also been seen in the rise. Following the US opinion towards this matter, myriads of activists have come up to oppose this act. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has significantly opposed the idea of mandatory drug test to welfare recipients. They have termed this act as unconstitutional and it shows how ‘blind’ the state is on the kind of money they are going to spend in implementing the law (Bloom, 2012). Ms. Bloom has condemned the government’s move to embrace this law as it is in contradiction of the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution and it infringes the amendment on the privacy invasion clause. According to her, this law is stereotypical, insensible and unfair (Bloom, 2012)
Another aspect of opposition to mandatory drug testing can be evident when the ACLU say that the idea of testing is the government’s strategy to discriminate upon some communities on grounds of color. They accuse the law of stigmatizing upon the poor whom ACLU term as people pursuing one type of public aid. It is a forum for the state's government to oppress this kind of individuals who are helpless....