96% of Florida Welfare Applicants Pass Drug Test

"TALLAHASSEE --Since the state began testing welfare applicants for drugs in July, about 2 percent have tested positive, preliminary data shows.

Ninety-six percent proved to be drug free -- leaving the state on the hook to reimburse the cost of their tests.

The initiative may save the state a few dollars anyway, bearing out one of Gov. Rick Scott's arguments for implementing it. But the low test fail-rate undercuts another of his arguments: that people on welfare are more likely to use drugs.

At Scott's urging, the Legislature implemented the new requirement earlier this year that applicants for temporary cash assistance pass a drug test before collecting any benefits."

http://www2.tbo.com/news/politics/2011/aug/24/3/welfare-drug-testing-yields-2-percent-positive-res-ar-252458/

So this was big a while back and it turns out Rick Scott was proven wrong on a great margin. What do you think of the results or the policy?

Maybe people who use illegal drugs stopped applying for welfare?Crunchy_Nuts

[QUOTE="Crunchy_Nuts"]Maybe people who use illegal drugs stopped applying for welfare?nintendofreak_2

or they were never taking drugs to begin with weezyfb

I see my urine smuggling ring is working just fine.cd_rom

If they're using urine tests it's easy to pass if you know what you're doing. Some of them could be going as far as having their kid peeing in a bag and taping the bag to their leg so they can use it when they take the test. In the military drug tests are completely random and you have a person in the bathroom next to you watching the urine leave your body. If the drug tests were done that way I can almost guarantee more people would have failed.

[spoiler] Not saying people on welfare are a bunch of drug addicts, but I knew plenty of people on welfare who used to smoke weed. When I was 20 I visited a buddy of mine who was still 18 and in his senior year of high school, his mom who was on welfare lit up right in front of me. I had to leave for awhile since I was in the Army and I didn't want to put my career on the line just in case the second hand smoke got to me. Granted, the chances it making me come up hot were between slim and none but I didn't want to risk it at the time. [/spoiler]

If they're using urine tests it's easy to pass if you know what you're doing. Some of them could be going as far as having their kid peeing in a bag and taping the bag to their leg so they can use it when they take the test. In the military drug tests are completely random and you have a person in the bathroom next to you watching the urine leave your body. If the drug tests were done that way I can almost guarantee more people would have failed.

ad1x2

[QUOTE="weezyfb"]or they were never taking drugs to begin with nintendofreak_2

Not possibly, highly likely.

[QUOTE="ad1x2"]

If they're using urine tests it's easy to pass if you know what you're doing. Some of them could be going as far as having their kid peeing in a bag and taping the bag to their leg so they can use it when they take the test. In the military drug tests are completely random and you have a person in the bathroom next to you watching the urine leave your body. If the drug tests were done that way I can almost guarantee more people would have failed.

UniverseIX

No, I'm not.

My family has been off and on of government assistance since I can remember and the places I lived before I left for the Army allowed me to see what some people will do to just beat the system and get more than they are supposed to. I have absolutely no doubts Google searches on how to beat a drug test skyrocketed in Florida after the drug tests were announced.

If 96% passed and 2% failed...what happeneed to the last 2%?

If 96% passed and 2% failed...what happeneed to the last 2%?

NuclearNerd

I have absolutely no doubts Google searches on how to beat a drug test skyrocketed in Florida after the drug tests were announced.

ad1x2

http://www.google.com/trends?q=how+to+pass+drug+test&ctab=0&geo=us&geor=usa.fl&date=ytd&sort=0

It seems like it did.

[QUOTE="UniverseIX"]

[QUOTE="ad1x2"]

If they're using urine tests it's easy to pass if you know what you're doing. Some of them could be going as far as having their kid peeing in a bag and taping the bag to their leg so they can use it when they take the test. In the military drug tests are completely random and you have a person in the bathroom next to you watching the urine leave your body. If the drug tests were done that way I can almost guarantee more people would have failed.

ad1x2

No, I'm not.

My family has been off and on of government assistance since I can remember and the places I lived before I left for the Army allowed me to see what some people will do to just beat the system and get more than they are supposed to. I have absolutely no doubts Google searches on how to beat a drug test skyrocketed in Florida after the drug tests were announced.

If 96% passed and 2% failed...what happeneed to the last 2%?

NuclearNerd

Inconclusive?

[QUOTE="ad1x2"]

[QUOTE="UniverseIX"] I think you're over estimating human ingenuity on a mass scale.

UniverseIX

No, I'm not.

My family has been off and on of government assistance since I can remember and the places I lived before I left for the Army allowed me to see what some people will do to just beat the system and get more than they are supposed to. I have absolutely no doubts Google searches on how to beat a drug test skyrocketed in Florida after the drug tests were announced.

Exactly. You can't judge the majority on the exceptions. Thats the whole failing of the thinking behind the initiative in the first place.

I still don't see what's wrong with a drug test before receiving welfare. Just because somebody was proven wrong for how many people would be caught doesn't make it a bad idea and we should stop.

It's things like that, and increasing medical benefits to extremely obese people, and other things that go against common sense we should do. It can save us money in the long run and stimulate people to change their lives. Stop allowing a certain destructive lifestyIe through removing the ability to live it. Things that a person can control and yet deliberately chooses not to, should be punished in one form or another. Especially when you're dealing with public money. Give to those who are willing to help themselves. It's not a very hard concept.

96% of people at a phish concert dont pass the drug test.

Am i just unlucky enough that most of the people I know who are on welfare are in that 2% who tested positive? I guess I am.

I still don't see what's wrong with a drug test before receiving welfare. Just because somebody was proven wrong for how many people would be caught doesn't make it a bad idea and we should stop.

It's things like that, and increasing medical benefits to extremely obese people, and other things that go against common sense we should do. It can save us money in the long run and stimulate people to change their lives. Stop allowing a certain destructive lifestyIe through removing the ability to live it. Things that a person can control and yet deliberately chooses not to, should be punished in one form or another. Especially when you're dealing with public money. Give to those who are willing to help themselves. It's not a very hard concept.

Wasdie

I'm actually shocked. I don't think everyone on welfare is on drugs but I would have expected a higher percent and, of course, a larger correlation.

I still don't see what's wrong with a drug test before receiving welfare. Just because somebody was proven wrong for how many people would be caught doesn't make it a bad idea and we should stop.

It's things like that, and increasing medical benefits to extremely obese people, and other things that go against common sense we should do. It can save us money in the long run and stimulate people to change their lives. Stop allowing a certain destructive lifestyIe through removing the ability to live it. Things that a person can control and yet deliberately chooses not to, should be punished in one form or another. Especially when you're dealing with public money. Give to those who are willing to help themselves. It's not a very hard concept.

Wasdie

So 96% of the people who knew way ahead of time that they would have to pass a drug test....passed the drug test. This is riveting stuff.

This won't stop the prejudicial, derisive, borderline abusive thoughts that the right have about these welfare recipient. in fact as we can see by this thread, the idea now is that the majority or at least a good portion of them cheated at these tests, because as we know being poor = being a liar, a thief and a mooch. :roll:

While not everyone on welfare do drugs, there are many who do. If the increase in Google searches on how to pass a drug test from Florida increased, then that shows that there are more than 2% do drugs. Wait until they have to do the random tests to see if the same holds true. If Florida's Department of Human Services is smart, they will call up someone the day before to tell them that they need to be at the office the next day without telling them what for. That would be the way to ensure that someone is not doing drugs and if the statistics bear out.

[QUOTE="Crunchy_Nuts"]Maybe people who use illegal drugs stopped applying for welfare?nintendofreak_2

I still don't see what's wrong with a drug test before receiving welfare. Just because somebody was proven wrong for how many people would be caught doesn't make it a bad idea and we should stop.

It's things like that, and increasing medical benefits to extremely obese people, and other things that go against common sense we should do. It can save us money in the long run and stimulate people to change their lives. Stop allowing a certain destructive lifestyIe through removing the ability to live it. Things that a person can control and yet deliberately chooses not to, should be punished in one form or another. Especially when you're dealing with public money. Give to those who are willing to help themselves. It's not a very hard concept.

Wasdie

[QUOTE="nintendofreak_2"]

[QUOTE="Crunchy_Nuts"]Maybe people who use illegal drugs stopped applying for welfare?chessmaster1989

[QUOTE="ad1x2"]

I have absolutely no doubts Google searches on how to beat a drug test skyrocketed in Florida after the drug tests were announced.

nintendofreak_2

http://www.google.com/trends?q=how+to+pass+drug+test&ctab=0&geo=us&geor=usa.fl&date=ytd&sort=0

It seems like it did.

Maybe people who use illegal drugs stopped applying for welfare?Crunchy_Nuts

The law might even help lower rates of drug use.

People probably didn't get tested if they knew they were using drugs, because then they would not only not get their welfare, but would have had to pay for the drug test.trick_man01

You're not gonna stop your line of support just because you think you won't pass the test.

It's not like it's difficult to falsify a piss test, been there done that MANY times...

While the drug test law has good intentions, the money could be put to better use.

Lets say that the 4% of people who are caught with drugs in their systems are taken off a welfare. What do they do now? We as human beings will do almost anything to survive. It's just in our nature. Because they already have a drug connection i'm sure that it won't be too hard for these former welfare recipients to get in the drug dealing game.

Now am I saying that people who get kicked off welfare will turn illegal forms of income. No. But the fact is, people have to do what they need to do to survive. Kicking people off of welfare doesn't solve a problem.

[QUOTE="trick_man01"]People probably didn't get tested if they knew they were using drugs, because then they would not only not get their welfare, but would have had to pay for the drug test.gatorteen

You're not gonna stop your line of support just because you think you won't pass the test.

This report may say otherwise.

According to that story, over 16,000 fewer people were on welfare since December of 2010. Granted, we can't say it was exclusively due to the drug testing but to just say it's a coincidence would be a stretch. It's not entirely unfeasible that people who knew they wouldn't pass just skipped a month of benefits and stopped smoking for 30 days so they would be clean for the next test. Better to lose a month by volunteering not to take the test than to be barred for at least six months from collecting due to taking it and failing.

While the drug test law has good intentions, the money could be put to better use.

Lets say that the 4% of people who are caught with drugs in their systems are taken off a welfare. What do they do now? We as human beings will do almost anything to survive. It's just in our nature. Because they already have a drug connection i'm sure that it won't be too hard for these former welfare recipients to get in the drug dealing game.

Now am I saying that people who get kicked off welfare will turn illegal forms of income. No. But the fact is, people have to do what they need to do to survive. Kicking people off of welfare doesn't solve a problem.

gatorteen

I would have no problem paying for someone's drug test if they are clean and can continually prove they are clean at random intervals so they can receive assistance from my tax dollars. I do have a problem with people who do drugs and want my assistance. They need to prove that they are willing to prove that they deserve said help and are willing to help themselves. This is why TANF is a good thing as it is temporary at 48 months.

While the drug test law has good intentions, the money could be put to better use.

Lets say that the 4% of people who are caught with drugs in their systems are taken off a welfare. What do they do now? We as human beings will do almost anything to survive. It's just in our nature. Because they already have a drug connection i'm sure that it won't be too hard for these former welfare recipients to get in the drug dealing game.

Now am I saying that people who get kicked off welfare will turn illegal forms of income. No. But the fact is, people have to do what they need to do to survive. Kicking people off of welfare doesn't solve a problem.

gatorteen