Should People Receiving Government Benefits Be Drug Tested (101)

They have habits. That's how they get to dealing, to feed their own habit.

Just came in my mind - there was a couple I knew who were selling stuff. I have no idea how much they made of it, but they were not on any kind of welfare, just seemed to live comfortably without any excesses. The end was pity however, the man fled arrest and I don't know his fate, the woman was a user herself and was killed by other druggies who robbed a little amount of money that she had in her apartment. I spoke to her daughter later and when I said that the poor woman was killed for nothing, the daughter replied that she was not poor, she had 5 properties she rented out. So there are profits in the trade, but is it worth for the risks?

Not everyone who receives government help are not all crooked,selling their food stamps or on drugs and purposely unemployed.There are some who do really need the help.It's obvious that there are some that no matter what they do to improve their circumstances they seem to fall through the cracks so to speak.My heart goes out to the ones who are need help the most.I used to volunteer in the school system and it broke my heart to see school children not being able to afford a hot lunch.Most days I just break down in tears and feeling so bad.I realized I couldn't feed them all.This all took place long before schools offered the free or reduced breakfast/lunch program.First I began giving the children lunch money everyday so they'd have lunch.I also began sponsoring a lunch in one of the empty classroom too by making some homemade soup/stew in my slow cooker and furnish milk and juice and bring that up to the school.Why should the children go without.

So how would drug testing people on benefits affect these people you are so worked up about?

And what about the out of work piss poor who can't get a job who's only little pleasure in life is the odd spliff to help them through their miserable existence...stop their benefits, let them starve?
Or more likely force them into a life of crime to survive.

That is a sad story. To answer your question, no, not to me. Murder, drugs, thieves, etc. nothing is worth taking another person's life, or their own freedom. It's very sad what drugs does to people. My heart pours out to drug addicts. It's very difficult to kick some of their habits and it ruins their lives.

I understand your point and I agree but the fact remains that some people are abusing the system which does, unfortunately, affect the people who truly need the help. I don't have the answer to the problem. I just know that there are plenty of people abusing the system. Would it help to drug test them and take away benefits from those who fail?

Your heart pours out to them, but you create a thread about them losing their benefits for being a substance misuser?

lalaslerra

I don't know the US system, but a work programme was mentioned. Also, we don't have a drug testing policy for job seekers (maybe that is a British thing). The UK adopted the work programme and from all the things I see reported about it, it is not helping people out of work as initially planned. It left many staff at job centres, (don't know what you call them in the US), worried for their own jobs. The job centre roles have changed to a system where staff don't have the time to talk to job seekers because the appointments are timed although people's experience may vary. The WP has been punitive and demoralising for many job seekers and restrictive in the type of help available. The WP is administered by the Department of Work and Pensions and the companies that run the WP are contracted. These companies act like sales, that is they have targets each month and each advisor has targets each month. Ultimately, they don't care what type of job someone takes or whether it is suitable to the person's needs. That said, many job seekers want employment and are willing to take whatever job they can. There are some people who misuse benefits no doubt about that and within that group, some have fallen into what I would call a rut. They are not helped to improve their education or skills and may have poor levels of both. Some of the work programme advisors may be sympathetic but believe or not some of them although long term unemployed themselves at one point are not empathetic treating all job seekers like criminals and drug testing I would think would be seen as assuming all job seekers are drug takers. How demoralising that may be for someone who has been in a profession with years of experience. On top of that, we have a bad economic situation and the fact is there are few jobs and too many people looking for jobs. Unemployed people's job search just became harder as disability groups and young people under 35 years old are penalised by further restrictions due to government policy under the current government. Many people have now the additional threat of homelessness or made homeless. How to explain to a mentally ill person who has always lived in their parents home after their parents death, they are going to be kicked out and moved to where? Students are another group targeted. One student was receiving a bursary from the National Health Service only for this to be taken away due to cuts so they have to apply for a hardship allowance and there is increasing numbers of students needing that help not getting it. Then there is the doctor who cannot afford his rent, sleeping on a friend's couch and having to give up his training. So many people now are unemployed, the question is when will I be next because it could happen to anyone. I see people including pensioners and families struggling to make ends meet and with a high cost of living, it is near impossible on benefits. I don't see people living the high life and those who are benefit cheats usually get caught eventually. In terms of housing, half of the households helped by the local council were single parent families and yes there is a culture of young single unmarried mums on the dole but from what I see the current benefit cuts encourage people to do whatever they can to survive. It's not about prevention of unemployment here. It's a case of claim what you can, tick all the boxes and hope you can get by. A huge problem that is not going to go away.

Of course not everyone abuses the system but like anything else, one bad apple spoils the batch. I hate to see poverty, starvation, homeless people, etc.

That is true a lot of the time but there are also some dealers who don't use drugs. They are simply in it for the money.

So do I and it is worrying that so many people are having to turn to charities and foodbanks up and down the country.

True.

When my son was little and between my late losing his job at no fault of his own doing we were homeless twice.Lived in shelter homes twice.Had to sell most of our belongings,slept in our once and at that time all that occurred we also had two pets and had to give one up.

It reminds me of a song about not letting one bad apple spoil the whole bunch.By allowing one bad apples to spoil the whole bunch at the very same exact time the ones who really and truly need help the most are overlooked.They (government)want to paint everyone with the very same brush.


I think regardless that all the adults should be tested to receive the help.I have no solution(s) if they get turned down or cut off help and we know who will suffer the most cause it's always been the children.

I've never come across a dealer who's not a user, but I have known plenty of users who deal.

Some are recreational users, many get themselves into a mess, and/or their families.

I think self-medicating plays a big part in substance misuse and perhaps walk a mile and all that?

But homelessness, poverty and starvation is what your advocating when you suggest people should lose their benefits for testing positive for illegal substances.

One 'bad apple' spoils the bunch because the popular focus, helped along by you and other posters, is the way you spread the stereotype.

Like Joy said, most people are at risk of needing benefits at some point, or another these days.

I'm not a religious person, but my mum once used this expression and I think its a good one:

Some people wear their god on their sleeve, and some people wear their god in their heart.

It's true, unfortunately, the children suffer the most

I'm not advocating anything. Read the topic again, the key word is "SHOULD". It is simply a question.

Thank goodness they are available!

Yes and if drug testing ever was instituted it would not affect those of us who don't use drugs.