Government Assistance Programs Should Require Drug Tests

All recipients of government assistance should be tested and required to successfully pass controlled substance screening as a condition of assistance entitlement eligibility!

There are many workplaces where either periodic or no-notice drug screening is a basic condition for continued employment. Many other work environments, have, as a basic prerequisite of employment either a ban on smoking or drinking. While these aren't very popular employer-imposed restrictions, nonetheless they are well tolerated by millions of workers who earn incomes, and pay taxes. Their earnings create the funds that are routinely handed out each month to those receiving public assistance of one kind or another from various state and federal agencies.

Why have we never imposed similar screening restrictions upon those who seek and accept government assistance? Wouldn't it be a "good" thing if we encouraged that portion of our population who accept the monetary assistance of wage-earners to also be drug-free, non-smoking, alcohol-free citizens? Doesn't it seem that the benefit derived from government assistance would be multiplied if large portions (any portion) of the government assistance dollar were not spent on drugs, tobacco and alcohol?

Why would it be insulting to those who receive government assistance for them to be required to demonstrate that they are staying drug-free, through urine testing? Is it too much meddling in a welfare recipient's life to provide monetary assistance that specifically excludes its use for payment for alcohol and tobacco products?