Christine Owens is the executive director for the National Employment Law Project, where she leads a team of 30 lawyers, policy Analysts and work force specialist. Today she is stating that the idea of routinely drug testing applicants for unemployment insurance is mean-spirited and misguided. She feels that unemployment insurance is a program explicitly grounded in individuals’ work history, involuntary job loss, and willingness to work—Individuals’ “work “ underwrites the “insurance” that provides income replacement during unemployment.”
Most people only collect unemployment for a few months but right now it is not normal times. There is Extreme unemployment going on in these times. Owen states, “It is no reason to impose extreme conditions on law-abiding Americans seeking the unemployment insurance assistance they’ve earned.”
Louisiana inpatient drug rehabs have differing opinions about this proposed legislation.
It is noted that drug testing of unemployment insurance applicants is not a good policy for other reason also. It is found that it is unnecessary. There are people who lose their jobs because of drug use or failed drug tests and they are being deemed ineligible for unemployment insurance in 20 states already. What about the other 30 states? A drug-related discharge would likely be treated as misconduct that disqualifies the person.
It is also found that drug testing for unemployed perpetuates myths and scapegoats the unemployed. There are false assumptions that unemployed are lazy drug users who want to get unemployment instead of a paycheck. This assumptions misunderstands what unemployment insurance does. It really helps workers who have lost their jobs in tough economic times.
Most important it was found that massive drug testing is the last thing cash strapped states can afford. The substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates the cost of drug testing at $25 to $75 per test. Federal law prohibits charging applicants; the states would have to pay for thousands of unemployed workers.
Some Shreveport drug rehab facilities doubt whether the state is willing to allocate the budget to test the unemployed.
Now we know that drugs are affecting our systems in law Enforcement in medical care and now this drug problem is in Welfare system and wanting to be in the Unemployment system. Drugs and their abuse are the real problem here. Let’s do all we can to educate and prevent drugs and their abuse.
