Open Discussion: Drug Testing as a Prerequisite for Welfare Benefits

Update: According to DDN, lawmakers have removed the provision from the budget bill it was attached to and will seek to implement it as its own bill.

Original Post: The Dayton Daily News today has a report on a proposed drug testing pilot program in Ohio that could soon come to fruition. The state Senate is working on a measure that would allow drug testing as a prerequisite to welfare benefits. The program, if passed, would begin a pilot program in 3 unnamed counties. Jackie Borchardt from the DDN runs down the proposed procedure:

Ohioans in the test counties who are seeking assistance would be assessed for “reasonable cause” to suspect the person has a drug problem. If the assessment yields reasonable cause, the person would have to pay for and pass a drug test before receiving cash assistance.

Welfare recipients who fail a drug test would lose assistance for six months, be offered substance abuse treatment and must pass a drug test before assistance is restored.

The article also describes the failed program in Florida where something similar was tried out. There, the cost of the tests administered was greater than the savings from benefits that were withheld. The plan Ohio is proposing seems to be an evolution of that, wherein only those identified as having "reasonable cause" are who would be tested, and based on the DDN article, would not reimburse those tested for the cost of the test (reportedly approximately $20-$30 per test).

What do you think? Is the perception that a large portion of welfare recipients are using illegal drugs accurate? What will it take, in your eyes, for a program like this to be considered a success?