Say No to Drug Testing the Unemployed

Most people including myself are drug tested at work, what is wrong with drug testing people who receive government assistance.

Glenn of PA 12:34AM November 15, 2012

Yes. It is helpful to know where our tax dollars are going; this doesn’t mean that they are on drugs. Individuals should be held accountable. Yes they should be tested for drugs. However, to put our best foot forward, the system needs to regroup and do away with the assistance and enforce the rules by having the individuals who can work, go to work. Instead of individuals choosing to live off the system, find jobs to support themselves. There are individuals in which I am aware of that have had many children, never worked, but have been supported through the debilitating aid from the government. Stop crippling the people!

As for Obama, when he went into office is where the thought came; this is a Black America and individuals have had opportunities to land great promising positions. But, This Is Not a Black America. We live in a diverse America that all individuals (American Citizens) should all be given the same opportunity.

As for Romney, Romney needs to give individuals; with less income made bigger credits. Why give the rich more credits? Oh, but wait, it is because the rich give more money! So, in all actuality, Politicians can all be bought for the right price? What a sad situation and they can still sleep at night. What happened to the integrity?

rann of TX 12:02PM August 09, 2012

Let us remember when alcohol was illegal. Alcohol is a nasty drug, and addiction. Why not have another option to pursue in this land of freedom? :(

Joe Everyman of IL 7:50AM May 28, 2012

Of course I am going to get slammed for this post, but here goes. I have worked with occupational safety programs and human resource management for the majority of my career. I was a Director of Human Resources for 12 years and Director of occupational safety programs on a nationwide level for almost 15 years. Early on in my career I was involved in literally dozens of cases per year related to on the job injuries. Six out of every 10 accidents that occurred involved on the job use of illicit drugs or alcohol. The costs associated with these accidents tolled in the tens of thousands, medical, therapy, legal, insurance premiums escalating and then of course, civil lawsuits that followed… because someone was under the influence of a narcotic or alcohol on the job. I absolutely agree when it comes to our freedom’s, how far do we take drug testing? I also believe that everyone working in any environment should not have to worry about being injured because another person feels as though they have the right to indulge in a drug or alcohol while working and risking the safety of his/her fellow workers. Unfortunately, many people who consume drugs and above average amounts of alcohol don’t consider that rights of others when they show up to work under the influence of an illicit drug or alcohol. Most people don’t even take the time to apply the a second or third order of thinking when giving consideration to an organization that has to deal with employee drug and alcohol use.

I believe everyone on Welfare should be drug tested, government officials should be drug tested, just like the police officers and fireman who are drug tested. Let’s face it… drug testing in the workplace is here to stay. While some use the Freedom argument as their only argument, they tend to forget or never consider the number of innocent people injured year after year on the job because of another individuals drug or alcohol use. It’s not the Marijuana which is almost embedded in American society that concerns most employers; it’s the hardcore drugs that scare employers, the cocaine, crack, barbiturates, meth and other commonly abused illicit drugs that concern employers, not to mention alcohol abuse on the job. If for only one second employers thought this was an industry developed to only make money without any real benefits to an organization, the industry would have failed years ago. As time progresses, more and more statistics show that a drug and alcohol free working environment is much safer than an environment without a drug testing program. I believe in freedom, I also believe that people should have the right to work in an environment free of drugs and alcohol… for his or her own safety. Maybe if some of you that are so dead against drug testing saw the other side of the coin, the side with the lawsuits, the medical costs, the civil suits and the damage done to those subjected to another individuals indiscriminate use of an illicit drug or alcohol… you would see things a little differently. Try doing this, put down your pot pipe or put away your zig-zags, place the pot back in the top drawer, if only for a little while, sit down at your computer and do a little research on the number of innocent people involved in drug and alcohol related injuries on the job, let’s leave pot out of the equation, we are talking about hardcore drugs here, that’s the concern.

Don of FL 5:11PM March 26, 2012