The Salt Lake Tribune recently reported that Senator Orrin Hatch is introducing an ammendment that requires people receiving public assistance to take drug tests. As I have stated before in blog posts and talk more extensively about in my new book, this could be a start to helping to make more people responsible in life and save hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars. Here is an exerpt from the article:
People seeking unemployment benefits or welfare would have to first pass a drug test under a proposal Sen. Orrin Hatch will try to add to legislation extending the social safety net during this time of economic turmoil.
Hatch, R-Utah, said his idea would help battle drug addiction and could reduce the nation’s debt. He will try to get the Senate to include his amendment to a $140 billion bill extending tax breaks and social programs this week.
“This amendment is a way to help people get off of drugs to become productive and healthy members of society, while ensuring that valuable taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted,” he said after announcing his amendment. “Too many Americans are locked into a life of a dangerous dependency not only on drugs, but the federal assistance that serves to enable their addiction.”
While this certainly isn’t a popular idea in the minds of those who feal addicts are helpless, diseased individuals, the majority of hardworking Americans should be able to relate to this situation, especially those who have overcome major obstacles in life to keep providing for their families.
Any ammendment should, in my opinion, allow people who test positive to to an addiction treatment center, preferably a 90 day drug rehab program or another long-term period, and submit clean drug tests under a probationary period before any public assistance is denied.