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Sorry, I happen to agree. Alcohol IS a drug, the most commonly used and widely abused psychoactive drug in the world. If one is truly opposed to all drugs and claims "zero tolerance", then it goes without saying that alcohol would be included.
I'll agree that alcohol is widely abused, maybe I should have said illegal drug usage. I do agree that alcohol is a drug however one that is legal. Having a drink with a few friends is completely different than smoking crack or snorting cocaine. Abusing alcohol will have a negative effect on someone's health but a few drinks once in a while will not. Doing other illegal drugs is ALWAYS harmful to one's health no matter how small of quantity.
I'll agree that alcohol is widely abused, maybe I should have said illegal drug usage. I do agree that alcohol is a drug however one that is legal. Having a drink with a few friends is completely different than smoking crack or snorting cocaine. Abusing alcohol will have a negative effect on someone's health but a few drinks once in a while will not. Doing other illegal drugs is ALWAYS harmful to one's health no matter how small of quantity.
Here, then, is the quandry. Which drugs would one test for?
I live in a very small Rust Belt city in Indiana that has a substantial amount of people on TANF, Food Stamps, Medicaid, and SSDI. While some people have health conditions that warrant possession of a legal prescription (for benzodiazepines, narcotics, Adderol/Ritalin [methamphetamine]), many don't. There is an enormous amount of prescription drug use and trafficking here.
Prescription drugs=Legal. Nothing prevents someone from getting high off of them.
Alcohol, while legal, can significantly impair one's ability to care for self and/or children.
Here, then, is the quandry. Which drugs would one test for?
I live in a very small Rust Belt city in Indiana that has a substantial amount of people on TANF, Food Stamps, Medicaid, and SSDI. While some people have health conditions that warrant possession of a legal prescription (for benzodiazepines, narcotics, Adderol/Ritalin [methamphetamine]), many don't. There is an enormous amount of prescription drug use and trafficking here.
Prescription drugs=Legal. Nothing prevents someone from getting high off of them.
Alcohol, while legal, can significantly impair one's ability to care for self and/or children.
So, my question is this:
WHICH drugs?
Where do we draw the line?
You are posing a very intelligent discussion versus the other poster who threw out a very rude comment without explanation.
Drug usage is a complicated issue, I agree there is no easy answer. I do believe if someone on welfare is doing an illegal drug such as cocaine, ecstasy, crack, meth, etc should be kicked off welfare. Medical marijuana is another wrench to throw into the equation as 14 states legalized it and we all know that it IS abused.
Prescription drug abuse is big as well, I don't have an answer how to regulate it.
I do believe it is an issue that must be addressed though.
You are posing a very intelligent discussion versus the other poster who threw out a very rude comment without explanation.
Drug usage is a complicated issue, I agree there is no easy answer. I do believe if someone on welfare is doing an illegal drug such as cocaine, ecstasy, crack, meth, etc should be kicked off welfare. Medical marijuana is another wrench to throw into the equation as 14 states legalized it and we all know that it IS abused.
Prescription drug abuse is big as well, I don't have an answer how to regulate it.
I do believe it is an issue that must be addressed though.
So, if a family receiving TANF has one member who tests positive for Ecstasy (btw, would it matter to you if it was a teenaged child in the family?), do you propose the immediate cessation of benefits?
What happens to the children?
What if the parent (if it is the parent who tests positive) is enrolled in a drug treatment program, or agrees to get treatment?
As far as prescription drugs are concerned--and I'll throw alcohol in there, too, would you propose the constant monitoring of the drug level in the patient? What if the patient tested at a higher concentration one month, indicating possible intentional overdose (to get high)?
I just see a lot of potential problems with the testing...not to mention the extraordinary costs involved.
One of the reasons I find testing hypocritical for TANF/Food Stamp recipients alone is that I used to work at Seattle-area hospitals and saw more cases of nurses, administrators, and physicians (and lawyers, pilots, bus drivers, government officials) being treated for serious substance abuse issues than I care to remember.
Abusing alcohol will have a negative effect on someone's health but a few drinks once in a while will not. Doing other illegal drugs is ALWAYS harmful to one's health no matter how small of quantity.
False. Marijuana is illegal but will NOT always be harmful to one's health. It is the safest recreational drug known to man, with no known long-term effects and zero documented overdoses in all of history. A few hits once in a while will not cause harm - eat instead of smoke and you will never see any harmful effects.
False. Marijuana is illegal but will NOT always be harmful to one's health. It is the safest recreational drug known to man, with no known long-term effects and zero documented overdoses in all of history. A few hits once in a while will not cause harm - eat instead of smoke and you will never see any harmful effects.
I agree with your post...but I still prefer my dentist/physician/airline pilot NOT burn a bowl before I use their services.
Last time I checked, physicians and dentists aren't subjected to monthly drug tests or pre-procedure sobriety tests.
That concerns me, much more than a TANF recipient's UA results.
I agree with your post...but I still prefer my dentist/physician/airline pilot NOT burn a bowl before I use their services.
Last time I checked, physicians and dentists aren't subjected to monthly drug tests or pre-procedure sobriety tests.
That concerns me, much more than a TANF recipient's UA results.
My brother worked at a hospital for years - we used to go to some of the hospital parties at people's houses- it was an eye opener to see the doctors and nurses partying so hard- drugs, alcohol- and them having to work the next day-
My brother worked at a hospital for years - we used to go to some of the hospital parties at people's houses- it was an eye opener to see the doctors and nurses partying so hard- drugs, alcohol- and them having to work the next day-
I believe it.
There is just something that doesn't sit well with me - showing more concern over a TANF recipient's drug habits than that of government officials (state and federal) or of professionals whose services, if performed while under the influence, could harm or kill us.
And the other side of the coin, Nanny Statism, is showing no signs of slowing down, so even I cringe at the thought of testing the above.
Mandate Drug testing for all State and Federal employees.
Start with EVERY Politician, Judge, Cop, and,... Officer of the Court...the Lawyers! Mandatory tests weekly. No exceptions. Then move on to Wall Street execs. and every political Lobbyist..
Mandate Drug testing for all State and Federal employees.
Start with EVERY Politician, Judge, Cop, and,... Officer of the Court...the Lawyers! Mandatory tests weekly. No exceptions. Then move on to Wall Street execs. and every political Lobbyist..
See how fast the drug laws change.
Just us or Justice? We choose, not them. Get it?
Excellent idea.
obama would surely fail, with his rumored affection for blow.
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