Who Will Pay for Drug Tests? Who Will Do the Testing?

[scooterbug44]

I know many have drug problems, but how does testing them solve that?

And treatment only works if they want it to.

Far better use of resources IMO.

Smoking, drinking, and eating junk food directly translates to higher costs - should we test for that and force anyone on welfare to get treatment?

 

[30ashopper]

I know many have drug problems, but how does testing them solve that?

And treatment only works if they want it to.

Far better use of resources IMO.

Smoking, drinking, and eating junk food directly translates to higher costs - should we test for that and force anyone on welfare to get treatment?

If they're on welfare their actions directly impact others, so I don't see why not.

 

[scooterbug44]

Should we sterilize them too?

That would really halt the cyclical nature of welfare.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

As far as privacy concerns, I am in a data base every time I have to go buy my sudafed for my allergies, and it is non-prescription. The pill mills certainly need to be regulated as much as my allergies are. More people die from prescription drugs and alcohol related deaths than from illegal drugs. Gotta follow the money on that one.

As far as the cost of testing from a paramedical examiner who used to test others for a living, it's not cheap if the test used has to stand up in court, and not a little dip stick test that some try to get away with. The cost of hiring others qualified to do them correctly is not cheap either. Some of the best money I ever made as a nurse was testing people for the private sector.

 

[Bob Wells]

Was told the Governor Scotts wife owns a drug testing company. Also was told that in 2004 the ACLU was able to defeat a similar drug testing plan.

 

[Rita]

.
Violation of the 4th Amendment?..

The Miami Herald reports:

[F]ederal courts generally have ruled that such policies violate the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches, say attorneys and legal scholars.

"You can?t do blanket tests like that. They?re facially unconstitutional," said Ephraim Hess, a Davie attorney who prevailed over the City of Hollywood in April 2000 when U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth L. Ryskamp ruled that governments cannot require prospective employees to take drug tests unless there is a "special need," such as safety.

The ACLU now says that it's prepared to represent any state employee who wants to challenge Scott's new policy:

"The state of Florida cannot force people to surrender their constitutional rights in order to work for the state. Absent any evidence of illegal drug use, or assigned a safety-sensitive job, people have a right to be left alone,"" said Howard Simon, executive director of the ACLU of Florida. Simon said the ACLU would represent any state employee who would like to challenge the policy.

Does Rick Scott's Drug-Testing Policy Violate the 4th Amendment? | Mother Jones


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[Alicia Leonard]

I'm more upset over the pill mill issue when I have to give all my info to just get my non-prescription allergy meds. Privacy concerns my patootie!

 

[30ashopper]

I'm more upset over the pill mill issue when I have to give all my info to just get my non-prescription allergy meds. Privacy concerns my patootie!

Why do you have to do that? Is that some sort of state or federal law? Sounds rediculous, what are they afriad you're going to do, OD on sudafed?

 

[scooterbug44]

No, they're worried she is going to cook meth.

It was a provision of the Patriot Act.

I can pick up prescription medicine w/o showing ID. To buy OTC cold medicine with Sudafed I have to show ID and the pharmacist has to take all my info and log what I bought.

 

[Teresa]

No, they're worried she is going to cook meth.

It was a provision of the Patriot Act.

I can pick up prescription medicine w/o showing ID. To buy OTC cold medicine with Sudafed I have to show ID and the pharmacist has to take all my info and log what I bought.

yep. that's been in force for quite some time. and for good reason I suppose.