Resource: Drug Testing of Welfare Applicants and Recipients

By: James M. Jeffords Center, University of Vermont

April 24, 2019

This study looked at different jurisdictions' use of drug testing as an eligibility requirement for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Medicaid. It reviewed several different states' approaches and concluded that, in general, states need to have a suspicion-based program to survive a Fourth Amendment, unreasonable search or seizure, challenge.

https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/Department-of-Political-Science/vlrs/EconomicIssues/VLRS_Drug_Testing_Welfare.pdf