Drug Testing CHA Residents & Public Employees (employment, school)

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by andywire

Having said that, I think the war on drugs is a huge waste. If someone want's to poison their body, I say let them, as long as they don't cause me any trouble. Once they do, throw the book at them. It's not the laws that prevent me from using drugs, it's my own free will. I feel everyone should have the right to choose for themselves.

Yep, it's all about moderation - all sorts of normal things can make people go nuts if they consume too much of them.

Take meth - people make it from over-the-counter drugs which are not the problem in and of themselves.

Or how about sugar - most scientists will tell you that sugar is technically a drug, and the abuse of it is actually costing us *plenty* in terms of health care expenses.

But we obviously don't go around locking people up just because they consume Twinkies by the carton, or arresting the Twinkies salespeople.

[andywire]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Take meth - people make it from over-the-counter drugs which are not the problem in and of themselves.

Well, meth is chemically different from the stuff in the OTC meds used to make it. I think the damage done by meth comes more from sending your brain into fight or flight, and just putting your body into overdrive. Nothing good can come from constantly sending your body into panic mode, eventually you will snap. Absolutely scary drug, I can't believe anyone would want that crap inside their body.

[dewthedru]

if someone claims to be so poor that they have to live in a house and eat food that I PAY FOR WITH MY TAXES, then i have zero issue with making sure they're not using their money to buy drugs while i feed and house them.

and i can't believe the city doesn't have drug testing already. you mean none of the people driving garbage trucks, cop cars, trains, busses, etc. are drug tested? are you effing kidding me?

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by dewthedru

if someone claims to be so poor that they have to live in a house and eat food that I PAY FOR WITH MY TAXES, then i have zero issue with making sure they're not using their money to buy drugs while i feed and house them.

and i can't believe the city doesn't have drug testing already. you mean none of the people driving garbage trucks, cop cars, trains, busses, etc. are drug tested? are you effing kidding me?

seems reasonable

[nikitakolata]

Originally Posted by dewthedru

if someone claims to be so poor that they have to live in a house and eat food that I PAY FOR WITH MY TAXES, then i have zero issue with making sure they're not using their money to buy drugs while i feed and house them.

and i can't believe the city doesn't have drug testing already. you mean none of the people driving garbage trucks, cop cars, trains, busses, etc. are drug tested? are you effing kidding me?

Actually, what I find ironic is that police officers and firefighters ARE drug tested. So, it's okay for the city to test them, just not the totally rude "greeter" at city hall. To me, if it's okay to test one type of city employee, it should be okay to test others. To me it seems like the jobs that are given out as political exchanges are the ones being given special treatment.

I agree about the housing though... I'm not suggesting we throw all these people in jail if they are using. But, they are costing us tax dollars anyway, so if they're doing drugs, I think they should be in a rehab program so that there's some chance that one day they will be productive members of society.

[j_cat]

Originally Posted by nikitakolata

Actually, what I find ironic is that police officers and firefighters ARE drug tested. So, it's okay for the city to test them, just not the totally rude "greeter" at city hall.

Let's see... possible risks of public safety personnel abusing drugs: could be quite disastrous. Possible risks of "greeter" abusing drugs: s/he might not show up one day, or might be on the sassy side.

If you can get out of the superiority/judgment/punishment mindset, you can see the absurdity of expanding drug testing.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by nikitakolata

I agree about the housing though... I'm not suggesting we throw all these people in jail if they are using. But, they are costing us tax dollars anyway, so if they're doing drugs, I think they should be in a rehab program so that there's some chance that one day they will be productive members of society.

That's a nice idea in theory, but that's not what's on the table. There are no rehabilitation programs available to these people.

[dewthedru]

Originally Posted by aragx6

That's a nice idea in theory, but that's not what's on the table. There are no rehabilitation programs available to these people.

i know it sounds terrible but who cares? i don't want to subsidize drug users.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by dewthedru

i know it sounds terrible but who cares? i don't want to subsidize drug users.

What do you think you're doing when they're in prison?

[dewthedru]

wait....what? what are you talking about? can you tell me what's wrong with not wanting to feed and house people that are doing drugs?