Township Requiring Drug Tests for Aid Recepients
By: Michael Pickett
Updated: January 27, 2013
A Posey County township now requires applicants for emergency aid to pass a drug test.
Black Township started mandatory testing earlier this month. Trustee Lindsay Suits says they're the first township in Indiana to make the requirement. Suits also says the screenings will not only help battle the area's drug problems, it'll also make them better prepared for the workforce, and less likely to ask for aid in the future.
"Sometimes helping in saying we need to get you ready for employment," she says. "The first step to that's breaking their dependency to drugs and, if they are, they're more likely to rely on the taxpayer."
Suits says more than 35 people have applied for aid this year, but that 30% of applicants have tested positive.
Black Township started mandatory testing earlier this month. Trustee Lindsay Suits says they're the first township in Indiana to make the requirement. Suits also says the screenings will not only help battle the area's drug problems, it'll also make them better prepared for the workforce, and less likely to ask for aid in the future.
"Sometimes helping in saying we need to get you ready for employment," she says. "The first step to that's breaking their dependency to drugs and, if they are, they're more likely to rely on the taxpayer."
Suits says more than 35 people have applied for aid this year, but that 30% of applicants have tested positive.
Comments
that is great they want to drug test the people. but i think that also they need to stop making up there mind to help someone before they even get into there appt.i have went to the trustees for help and found the welcome a bit rude and unwelcoming and i can pass a drug test sometimes people just have a hard time it does not mean everyone is doing drugs.some people just cant make ends meet so i dont think they should be made to feel any more bad then what they do having to ask for help.you can not judge someone by the way they look or what you think they are doing. i went out to the trustees for help and she told me no because i needed to file for child support.now i dont go there all the time i keep my bills paid the best i can i have 2 and 3 year old at home and they knew that they just did not care so in 3min of being there i was told know i think this new team of people out the do not have any compassion for the poor people and that maybe they need to walk a mile in other people lifes that are trying to be good people some us are not as lucky as others but we are all human beings
ashley c.
January 28, 2013 at 8:14 am
