Michigan Governor Rick Snyder elected on Friday to waste taxpayer dollars in an effort to punish the poor for being poor. Ignoring the lessons learned when similar programs were adopted in Florida, Tennessee, Utah, Oklahoma, and other states that have adopted measures to shame society’s most financially vulnerable through humiliating and unnecessary drug testing procedures, Snyder signed a bill into law forcing those who can’t afford to eat to face the additional humiliation of having to pee in a cup if they are “suspected” of illegal drug use.
The CDC reports that, on average, 9.2% of the population age 12 and older use illegal drugs each month (7.3% of the population uses Marijuana, which is slowly becoming more accepted in society). States that have chosen to drug test the poor have, in the past, unwittingly revealed that poor individuals actually use drugs at a much lower rate than the national average.
Florida, for example, spent $118,140 to drug test 4,086 applicants seeking to receive welfare benefits between July and October 2011. Only 108, or 2.6 percent, failed the tests — with most testing positive for marijuana. About 40 individuals scheduled tests, but canceled them, according to the Department of Children and Families. The reasons for cancellation were unspecified. Ultimately, taxpayers lost $45,780 to this blatant attempt to shame the disadvantaged.
The state of Missouri drug tested 636 applicants, finding only 20 who tested positive for illegal substances. About 200 refused to comply with this unnecessary testing. The cost of the program was a whopping $500,000.
Between November 2012 and May 2013, the state of Oklahoma drug tested 1,890 people. Only 83 of them tested positive for illegal drugs, at a cost of $83,000.
In Utah, only 14 out of 6,007 who were screened between August and October 2012 tested positive at a hefty $32,000 bill to the taxpayers.
“I have not seen any kind of credible data to this point to suggest these kinds of programs help people who are on drugs,” said staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Criminal Law Reform Project Jason Williamson.
The state of Tennessee found a whopping one person who tested positive for illegal drugs.
Despite that drug testing of welfare recipients is, historically, a waste of money, Snyder has approved HB 4118, which will allow drug testing of welfare recipients “suspected” of drug use. No standards for “suspicion” have been detailed, but failure to submit to this humiliation will lead to ineligibility for benefits for a period of six months.
“We want to remove the barriers that are keeping people from getting good jobs, supporting their families and living independently,” Snyder said in a press release. “This pilot program is intended to help ensure recipients get the wrap-around services they need to overcome drug addiction and lead successful lives. We’ll then have opportunity to assess effectiveness and outcomes.”
The cost of the program, which will initially be implemented in three counties, is estimated to cost between $700,000 and $3.4 million. Proponents claim that the program will save $370,000 – $3.7 million.
In the end, not only will this be a gigantic waste of taxpayer dollars — but the measure will only serve to stereotype, stigmatize, and shame the poorest of the poor.
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