Tennessee Drug Tests Welfare Applicants, Discovers Less Than One Percent Use Drugs

by Bryce Covert, Posted on August 7, 2014 at 9:36 am Updated: August 7, 2014 at 11:19 am

In July, Tennessee began a drug testing program for applicants to the state’s welfare program. Since then, just one person has tested positive out of more than 800.

Applicants have to answer three questions about drug use to get benefits, and if they answer yes to any of them, they get referred to urine testing. If the result is positive, they have to complete a treatment plan and then take another test. If the second comes back positive, they get cut off from benefits for six months. Those who refuse to take a drug test in the first place can’t get benefits.