Arizona Drug Tested Welfare Recipients — Here Are the Shocking Results

[Frank DeForrest]

Originally Posted by MaseMan

True fiscal conservatives should be against welfare drug testing, as evidenced by the results cited in the article.

True fiscal conservatives should be against welfare. Not many around unfortunately.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by 2sleepy

Here is the cost data for 7 states, it looks like a net loss in each of those states.

What 7 States Discovered After Spending More Than $1 Million Drug Testing Welfare Recipients | ThinkProgress

Just a bit of advice, if you are going to use a reference like Think Progress you better thoroughly analyze the figures they are using. I would give the same advice to anyone using ultra conservative site. Both of them will inevitably twist the numbers so much it would impress a contortionist.



Here is some more recent figures that include those that refused the test:

Kansas is testing few welfare recipients for drugs | The Kansas City Star

Missouri has been drug-testing welfare applicants since March 2013. Since then, the state has conducted 655 tests. Only 69 applicants tested positive, but 711 refused the test and were disqualified for benefits.

A quick search says the average TANF payout is $432, if we were to assume those that failed or refused the test would not receive benefits for one year.

12(months)*780(failed or refused)*$432= $4,043,520 ...........

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by 2sleepy

Is that your opinion, or is it based on real data because that was not the case in Florida: "And the testing did not have the effect some predicted. An internal document about Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, caseloads stated that the drug testing policy, at least from July through September, did not lead to fewer cases."

Note the baseline, it's about 12% less by the final month it was implemented. What happens after that is anyone's guess.

Link to graph