Say "NO" to random drug testing of our poor

Say no to random drug testing of welfare recipients.

To: United States Congress, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and The President of the United States.

We, the citizens of the United States of America feel that making random drug testing mandatory to receive welfare assistance is neither an appropriate nor effective use of a state's limited resources. Michigan’s drug testing program was struck down in 2003 as an unconstitutional violation of the Fourth Amendment’s protection against searches without reasonable cause.

Moreover, random drug testing is a costly, flawed and inefficient way of identifying recipients in need of treatment. Better alternatives exist and are already being implemented to address drug abuse among welfare beneficiaries. Because sanctions for noncompliance put vulnerable children at risk, state and federal policymakers should not enact more barriers to a safety net program that protects low-income children and families, especially during an historic economic downturn and decline in the labor market.

There have been disputes about whether or not random drug testing should me made mandatory. Widespread drug testing is an inefficient use of taxpayer money. Chemical drug tests have significant shortcomings. More importantly, they cannot distinguish between occasional substance users and substance abusers. Imposing additional sanctions on welfare recipients will have negative impacts on children. Welfare sanctions and benefit decreases have been shown to increase the risk that children will have to be hospitalized and will face food insecurity.

Without these benefits, families may be unable to meet children’s core basic needs, such as housing and clothing. The impact on children may be even greater now, with few job openings and family budgets already stretched because of the recession. If you are against mandatory drug testing and want to stop this injustice from happening, please sign this petition. Thank you!

Sincerely,

The people of Michigan