Conditional Welfare: A Family Social Work Perspective on Mandatory Drug Testing

Drug testing of welfare applicants as a requirement for benefits, its pros and cons, and its implications for family social work practice are discussed in this paper. While proponents of drug testing argue that drug use and welfare dependency are correlated, opponents suggest that mandatory drug testing is costly, infringes upon individuals' civil rights, and unfairly assumes welfare applicants are drug abusers. Client and family concerns around mandatory drug testing and positive test results include the possibility of child welfare system involvement, reduced employment opportunities, and the lack of adequate child care while in treatment. Effective treatment models for substance abusing welfare applicants and recipients should occur within a system of collaborative care that includes the entire family, particularly the children of these substance-abusing parents. Training issues for family social work practitioners and social work educators are also discussed.