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Kade Quarnberg
Dr. Sean M. George
December 7, 2015
English 1010D.03
No More Buying Drugs
The 1930s were a sad time in American history. This era is what we know as the great
depression. America was on its knees and many people struggled every day just to stay alive. It
was during this time that the program known as welfare began. Welfare was created to give
assistance to that overwhelming number of families and individuals who had little to no income.
Following the great depression the welfare system was left in the hands of the federal
government for 61 years. During this time it made it impossible for states to individualize theyre
policies for welfare qualifications while making it easy for Americans to take advantage
(Macdonald). People became lazy and gave up on applying for jobs. Abusing the system some
enlarged their families, others stayed unmarried all in efforts to receive more freebies. The
system that was created in the 1930s was in efforts to help thousands who literally had nothing.
That same system now is being used to help thousands to become lazy. It is allowing people to
ride on the backs of the hard working tax paying population and get a free pass. Although
welfare is essential for many Americans still today, I believe the government needs to do more in
regulating the qualifications for one to receive its benefits. Specifically, the law needs to be
passed in all 50 states requiring any individual seeking welfare to pass a drug test as a
prerequisite. I believe that if it was done properly it would help save tax payers dollars, help
more families truly in need, and help those effected by drugs to make a change.

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In the early 1990s, with high hopes to better the welfare program, newly elected
President Bill Clinton and the Republican Congress passed a reform law that gave control of the
welfare system to the individual states (Wincup). This gave the ability for states to personalize
the qualifications of individual in need of welfare. Many ideas have been talked about and passed
but perhaps none have been as significant and controversial then requiring recipients to pass a
drug test. I think its a brilliant idea and can assist in bringing back the original intentions of the
welfare program. Every state should have the same laws and regulations regarding drug testing
as Florida in that all applicants regardless should be tested. Applicants must be notified of the
drug testing requirement at the time of application, and are required to pay for the test. If they
test negative the applicant will be reimbursed for the cost by adding the amount to their benefit
check. If an applicant tests positive the applicant is ineligible for benefits for one year,
but can reapply in 6 months if he or she completes an approved substance abuse
treatment program. A parent's positive test result does not affect the child's eligibility for
benefits; however, any benefits received must be disbursed through a protective payee who must
also pass a drug test (Player).
With these qualifications and regulations in mind it is clear that it will save the tax payers
hard earned money. By passing this law it immediately gives taxpayers a peace of mind knowing
that a part of their money is going to help a family truly in need and not to some drug dealer.
Many researchers that are against passing this law, have found that some states are actually
spending more tax dollars by paying for all the things necessary to do the drug testing, then they
are just giving the individual welfare (Amundson). I think this can be true if states continue to
do what they are calling random drug testing where they select a handful or those they find
suspicious of using drugs and test them. To me this is a little bit like gambling, sometimes they

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might pick out a few that are using and other times they will miss hundreds. Just as Florida has
done they should require every single applicant to be tested and the applicant should have to pay
for it until they have tested negative for drugs. After they have passed the drug test the person
would then get their money back that they spent on the test. This allows states to get rid of the
problem of wasting money on those who are using drugs and help those who arent.
Ever since welfare was created the goal was exactly that, helping those in dire need. It
was not invented to bail people out and allow them to not work. Furthermore, it was not invented
to help people buy and use illegal drugs. One of the things that has made living in America
amazing for hundreds of years is that fact that most are willing to lend a helping hand. Giving
your shirt off your back to those in need is what America is all about. The welfare program is an
indication of just that, unfortunately, as we can see, there are many who are willing to abuse its
benefits. It is easy to see that being stricter by requiring a drug test would get rid of some of
those taking advantage, and would help them in the long run. It would allow us as Americans to
provide help to those who are truly in need. Perhaps even more important, it allows those who
have a problem with drugs to get help, which brings me to my final point as to why drug testing
prior to welfare is a great idea.
Just as we read in the description of Floridas laws one who applies for welfare and fails
would then have to be clean for 6 months in order to reapply (NCSL). They have a chance to go
to rehab, attempt to make a change, and become better as a person. Many arguments have been
made that the government isnt saving money with this drug testing process because they are
spending that saved money on sending these people to rehab facilities. Even if this argument is
true wouldnt you as a taxpayer feel better about your tax money going to help a person
overcome an addiction to drugs then to a person continuing in it? The answer for me and millions

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of good Americans is yes. This process of drug tested would allow thousands of Americans in
need come forward and receive help with their addiction to drugs. Looking back to the intentions
of welfare in the first place, wasnt helping those in need the whole reason for it?
Another way one might look at it is people who apply for jobs have to pay for their drug
test that many employers require. If welfare is going to be the means of someones income
shouldnt they have to meet the same standards? I think they should not only be held to the same
standards but perhaps a higher ones. Not only are they not working for their income, they are
also being paid by the rest of Americans. The way I look at it is people who are receiving welfare
should look at welfare as a job where they get paid to find another job. They should not be lazy
and spending our money on drugs. Instead they should be busy working hard to provide for
themselves and families who are in need of their success.
In closing, we should all look at welfare as those who invented it did. It is a program set
up to help those who are in a crisis and need help. If we as Americans allow people to use
welfare as a crutch we are hindering them. I believe that requiring drug testing before receiving
welfare will assist in getting the program back to the way it was. Each state should have the same
laws as the state of Florida has set up and if done properly this will save tax payers dollars, help
more families truly in need, and allow those addicted to drugs to receive help. Welfare is an
amazing program set up to literally save lives. No one should have to go without a meal, but on
the other hand, no one should misuse a helping hand in order to buy drugs.

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Works Cited
Amundson, Kaylynn. "Pathologies of the Poor: What do the War on Drugs and Welfare Reform
Have in Common?" Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare 41.1 (2014): 5-28. Web.
Macdonald, Isabel. "The GOP's Drug Test Dragnet." Nation 296.16 (2013): 11-17. Web.
National Conference of State Legislatures. 2015. Web. 8 December 2015.
Player, Candice T. "TEMPORARY Assistance for Needy Families." American journal of Law
and Medicine 40.1 (2014): 26-84. Web.
Wincup, Emma. "Thoroughfares, crossroads and cul-de-sacs: Drug testing of welfare
Recipients." International Journal of Drug Policy 25.5 (2014): 1031-1037. Web.