Drug Tests for Welfare Recipients
.c The Associated Press
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The state of Michigan, which is implementing new mandatory drug tests for welare recipients, found that 8 percent of those tested in three separate regions showed signs of illicit drug use.
However, Douglas Howard, the head of the state's Family Independence Agency, cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from the statistics.
``We're very early in this,'' Howard said in today's Detroit Free Press. ``We haven't really gone through a full cycle, and it's possble the numbers could go up, but it's possible they could go down.''
Michigan officials say the state is the first in the nation to require drug tests as a condition of collecting welfare.
Starting Oct. 1, the state required drug tests for all new welfare applicants in Alpena and Presque Isle counties, Berrien County and the Joy and Greenfield area in west Detroit.
By the end of October, the state had 258 test results back, 21 of which were positive. Eighteen indicated marijuana useand three were for cocaine.
Mandatory testing is expected to go statewide by 2003. But welfare-rights advocates and the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan say the program is a violation of privacy. Last month, the ACLU filed suit in federal district court challenging the program's legality.
Those who test positive are being evaluated and sent to drug treatment - paid for by the state. No one will be denied food stamps or assistance checks if they test positive for drugs, and police will not be notified.
But those who test positive and do not go to treatment risk the gradual loss of their benefits.
AP-NY-11-04-99 0627EST
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