Drug testing Welfare applicants has done little to save the program money

 

USA Today reports that testing welfare applicants for drug use has failed to save money as the program had intended.

Arizona began testing welfare applicants in 2009. After 87,000 people were tested, only one tested positive. The one drug user helped the state save a mere $560 out of the $200 million spent since testing began.

In Florida, all adult applicants were tested and charged $30-$40 for the test. About 2.7% tested positive and one third failed to take the test. However, there is no way of knowing if those who failed to take the test did so out of fear of testing positive or the lack of ability to pay the cost. 

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