Australian doctors say welfare recipients drug testing not effective

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has urged the Federal Government to abandon plans to test welfare recipients for illegal drug use.

The RACP claims that the proposed drug testing program would not be effective and would place undue stress on welfare recipients and their families.

The Government proposes a pilot program requiring about 5,000 welfare recipients to undergo drug testing, placing many requirements and restrictions on recipients testing positive for illegal drug use.

Dr Adrian Reynolds, President of RACP’s Chapter of Addiction Medicine, said, “Addiction is a complex health issue. The RACP wants to work with the government to create effective policy solutions for people battling drug and alcohol addiction but drug testing Australians on welfare is not the way to do it. Drug testing welfare recipients and removing their support won’t connect them with the treatment and rehabilitation services they need. This policy will fail and it will lead to poor health outcomes for this community.”

Dr Catherine Yelland, RACP’s President, said that the policy of testing welfare recipients for drug abuse had been a failure in other countries. She said, “As doctors we value evidence and the evidence in this area shows that drug testing trials don’t work. The experience of countries like the USA and New Zealand tells us that drug testing has a poor record in identifying people with drug problems and modifying drug use. Why would a similar pilot program that drug tested Australians produce a different outcome?”