States Consider Drug Tests for Welfare Recipients, page 6

In the past we provided contracted services to the department so I have seen a good portion of welfare recipients in my area. I think some here are being a bit naive.

There are good people who need the assistance and would submit to testing no problem. On the other hand there are others who want their lifestyle financed by society. These people are the problem. They learn what the rules are and how to break them without being in violation. In fact I've seen people start out good and once in the system resort to the same kind of tactics seen in others.

Here's the problem legal prescription drugs. Welfare/medicaid go hand in hand. Often drug abusers/alcoholics are involved in falls, car accidents you name it and require medical attention where upon they are given prescriptions for pain pills and muscle relaxants. Others claim they have issues and are given sleep aids & anti-depressants. We're talking about some very strong drugs here that have value on the black market. Some of these people stay on their legal drugs. It's perfect they can keep getting assistance due to the fact their strong meds make them unable to work. When these no longer work their Dr. happily prescribes them stronger ones. Everyone's happy these people get their pills/assistance, the doctors make money as do the pharmaceutical companies, hospitals etc. I've seen little old ladies who worked their whole lives become this type of person, staying dependent on these kinds of pills and the system.

Now on the other hand some get their meds but prefer the illegal stuff. They will trade or sell their meds for what they want. After a certain amount of time goes by they can refill their scripts and be back on their merry way. They never have to use food stamp/welfare money, although they have figured out ways to abuse that system also.

This problem with legal prescriptions was getting so out of hand in my area several doctors were under investigation and prohibited from writing prescriptions for narcotics. It had become their bread & butter. Their patients just went on to find another doctor and the "doctors" were suspended from writing prescriptions for narcotics for a time. A slap on the wrist imo. If testing was required most would just stay on their legal drugs. Is that any better?

Many of you would not believe the extent people will stoop to when trying to get free money. One woman actually admitted to me when she wanted to get her social security settlement she purposely did bad on her mental evaluation. Well she did such a good job they found her to be so incompetent she was required to have a guardian to handle her money. Jokes on her but how sad. If she was willing to take herself down to such a level I say she traded her self-respect for a living not dissimilar to prostitution. So I would say she is probably not all there and is a raging alcoholic btw.

No easy answers here but testing is not the cure all you would like to believe. Imo there is a reason our government wants people on the dole. You think maybe someone is making a lot of money off it? No they won't allow testing. What would they do with all the children of those who test positive? CPS in no way could handle those numbers. Believe me I feel your pain but only an honest fully disclosed examination of the entire system will bring about the change we desire. Testing imo would only incur further expense and would be just another way for some organization/corporation to get rich off of the welfare system & us. It's a lose-lose situation.