sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

States that have tried this have found two things: the program costs more than it saves, and the rate of drug use in this population is the same as in the general population.

Kobuk Loc: Roseville, CA

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

daplight Loc: Kansas

The day is young so I know this topic is going to get a lot of attention. I remember talking to a businessman who needs to hire qualified and competent drivers to deliver his products, which he faces an uphill battle with so many DUI's and drug offenses out there. I'm probably showing my age when I can remember actually competing for a minimum-wage job when I was young.

Times have changed.

Dale40203 Loc: Louisville, KY

How much does drug screening cost?

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Sounds good, how about disqualifying criminals from public assistance, might be the deterrent we're looking for, commit a crime as a teenager and never be able to get public assistance, might make them think!

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

but general population, presumably, are working

Janus

The simple answer for us Brits is vote Brexit, what the hell did our forefathers fight n die for?. and as for you Americans watch n learn the eastern tide is coming your way big time.

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

Yup

richard-sports Loc: New York City

It also defines many of the Neanderthals on this site.

Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

Data is sometimes helpful. As an example......from Snopes:

"Arizona has the oldest drug testing program in place. Since 2010, Arizona has screened all TANF applicants via a paper questionnaire and then refers individuals for drug testing if there is a reasonable suspicion that the applicant may be a substance abuser.

Over the five year period between 2010 and 2014, Arizona paper-screened 142,424 TANF applicants but referred only 42 for drug testing. Only 19 of those 42 applicants completed their tests, and only three of those (15.8%) tested positive. Arizona claims it has spent only $499 on drug testing — an amount which obviously doesn't include the personnel costs associated with conducting the paper screenings.

Using the state's own figures, however, Arizona's program would rank as one of the most cost-effective, resulting in a cost of only $166 per positive test result or (if we count the no-shows) only $19 per individual who became ineligible for TANF benefits, due to either a positive test result, or because of failure to show up for testing.

The Arizona Sonora News Service reported in March 2015 that the net savings of withheld TANF benefits for 26 individuals was only $3,500."

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It's hard to give a definite yes or no without lots of details. You take the test, pass, and get certain benefits. Suppose you fail the test? You still get the benefits?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Most of us have Neanderthal DNA.

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/01/29/your-inner-neanderthal-fossil-bits-neanderthal-dna.html

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Are you serious? If they were capable of thinking, they would have done well in school and gotten good jobs. :D

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

mancemd

Here is a summary that you might find interesting:

http://www.snopes.com/should-we-drug-test-welfare-recipients/

As a retired veteran I was tested randomly during my entire military service and for the five years I worked GS

BLUF: taxpayers should not be providing benefits to person using illicit substances