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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsEconomyStarted 11yrs agoActive 2yrs ago

Should welfare recipients be tested for drugs?

5 U.S. states have passed laws requiring welfare recipients to be tested for drugs. Proponents argue that testing will prevent public funds from being used to subsidize drugs habits and help get treatment for those that are addicted to drugs. Opponents argue that it is a waste of money since the tests will cost more money than they save.

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Answer Overview

Response rates from 4.9m America voters.

77%
Yes
23%
No
69%
Yes
17%
No
4%
Yes, but provide treatment for those testing positive
4%
No, only if they have a criminal history related to drug abuse
3%
Yes, test anyone receiving money from the government including employees and politicians
2%
No, this is a waste of time and money
1%
Yes, and immediately terminate benefits for anyone testing positive

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 4.9m America voters.

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Historical Importance

Trend of how important this issue is for 4.9m America voters.

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Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from America voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @8HB7BYY from Florida  answered…6yrs6Y

Yes, and immediately remove benefits from any who test positive, BUT also provide them treatment.

 @8FRTVZ5 from Texas  answered…6yrs6Y

No, and drugs should be legalized.

 @B23R6DC from California  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes, but provide incentives for treatment, collaborate with non-profit and private organizations to fund treatment centers, provide more funding for treatment and prevention programs, and provide policy review to amend as necessary.

 @9L4Z23B  from Pennsylvania  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes, and if tests are failed, all benefits must be paused until they successfully graduate a drug court program

 @5FPBRNMfrom Pennsylvania  answered…6yrs6Y

They should get help. Addiction is a brain condition and they need treatment as much as anyone.

 @8RWLDZJ from Tennessee  answered…5yrs5Y

No and end all welfare.

 @BBRDTVP from South Carolina  answered…4mos4MO

People should not be disqualified for drug use, but reasonable penalties or conditions can be placed on people found using welfare for illegal activity.

 @B52PGH2 from Florida  answered…1yr1Y

Yes, require routine basic screenings. Must test negative or, if testing positive, comply with treatment to get clean

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…2yrs2Y

Elizabeth Warren Walks Back Murder Comments

Congressional Democrats broadly denounced the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Friday morning, after Republicans started accusing Sen. Elizabeth Warren of excusing violence.“No one's condoning this,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.). “Violence never is the right answer for anything. And it was a horrible murder, a tragic loss for his family.” Warren this week condemned the shooting, but added that people “can be pushed only so far.”"We'll say it over and over," Warren said on MSNBC’S “The ReidOut.” " Violence is never the answer. This guy [Luigi Mangione] gets a trial who's allegedly killed the CEO of UnitedHealth, but you can only push people so far, and then they start to take matters into their own hands."In a statement to POLITICO, Warren said, “Violence is never the answer. Period. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.” Top Republicans denounced Warren's comments and the walked-back rhetoric, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) calling it “inappropriate and dangerous.”Some House Democrats asked about the incident on Thursday pivoted the conversation to discuss policy options on health care or gun safety.“I don't really know that this is really a space that Congress normally weighs in on,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas). “But at the end of the day, I think it’s an opportunity, because now people are talking about health care and to talk about the fact that this industry has honestly not been as helpful as it could be.”“Violence is never the answer,” said Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.). “We know that there are people suffering, there’s great challenges in healthcare. There's great challenges, and people have, in fact, been wronged, but a process of governance is the way to address that, not violence.”And Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) who denounced the murder, said the killer should be prosecuted and that “I do know that allegedly a ghost gun was used, and we should also ban ghost guns. There's no reason for them beyond the streets.”

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About This Data

Based on 4.9m responses to this question.

These results come from iSideWith's ongoing political issues survey. We collect over a million responses per day, filter out duplicate and multiple submissions, and break the results down by political party, ideology, age, state, and census demographics (income, race, education, household).

iSideWith is non-partisan — we don't advocate for any party, candidate, or position. We report what the public tells us.

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iSideWith. (2026). “Should welfare recipients be tested for drugs?” — Public Opinion Poll Results. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://www.isidewith.com/polls/1405748003

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