[ChronoGrl]

I find drug testing to be not entirely accurate and also an invasion of privacy. It bothers me that I had to give not one, but two drug tests over the course of my time here (once when I started with the consulting agency and once when I was hired perm). What bothers me is this:

a. What if it gave a false positive because of something that I ate?
b. What if it gave a true positive because I had legitimately smoked marijuana?

To be honest, who CARES if I like to smoke recreationally? As long as it doesn't get in the way of me showing up for work and doing my job, I don't think that it's my company's business. I'm a fucking "business analyst" - My job in no way shape or form impacts the lives or health of anyone else... I agree with Wicker - If drug testing should be enforced, I think that it should be for workers who perform jobs that impact other's lives (doctors, air traffic controllers, pilots, drives, etc.).

Also, as it has been mentioned, I find it ridiculous that companies test for "DRUGS" but not for alcohol.

Anyway - Building on that rant, Should people be drug tested for Welfare?

No. Not with the way that drug testing currently exists in that it lumps people who smoke weed in with people who do "harder" substances. Also, I think that if we want to be stringent, alcohols should be considered a drug.

In my example above with my workplace - I find it a violation of my privacy that I could be tested. However, if, say, my recreational habits impede my ability to work, then I think I should be penalized - Same thing if I'm lazy and sucky at my job (sober), then I should be penalized.

My point is that my work value should be judged based on work performance and not whether or not I pee clean.

Same issue with Welfare:

a. If people think that people on Welfare are "lazy" and "not looking for jobs" and "taking advantage of the system," then there should be clear goals that they must meet (e.g. Must prove that they are looking for/interviewing for jobs, etc.) in order to receive their Welfare checks.
b. If people think that people on Welfare are spending money on drugs and alcohol instead of food, clothing, etc., then perhaps Welfare should provide more foodstamps and WIC instead of flat money, ensuring that people are spending it on what they need.


I don't think that drug testing is the answer - I think that there are other ways to identify people who may be abusing the system and/or curtailing abuse.