Editorial: Sensible move to target the drug user

The move to drug test beneficiaries is a sensible one. Of course the state needs to provide a safety net for those who fall on hard times, but unemployed people must make every effort to find work and recreational drug use is not an excuse to avoid getting a job.

For years employers have complained of the problems associated with workers showing up with drugs in their system. In recent years the forestry industry, in particular, has been taking a hard-line by carrying out random and pre-employment drug tests.

The Government is set to take a similar approach. In doing so it is falling into line with the expectations of employers.

About 40 per cent of the jobs listed with Work and Income require drug tests so anyone on the unemployment benefit is severely limiting their chances of finding work if they choose to use drugs.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett this week announced pre-employment drug testing will take effect from next July and beneficiaries with work expectations will face sanctions if they refuse to apply for drug-tested jobs.

The policy will apply only to those with a work expectation attached to their benefit and only for available work opportunities requiring drug tests.

Currently an unemployment beneficiary can decline to apply for a drug-tested job, because they won't pass the test, without consequence. After the change comes into force, beneficiaries who fail a test will have the cost of the drug test deducted from their benefit and must agree to stop using drugs or their benefit will be cut by 50 per cent. Continual failures to return clean tests could result in benefits being cancelled.

Sensibly the Government differentiates between recreational drug users and addicts, who will be exempt from sanctions. The reason for this is the sanctions may work on recreational drug users but will have little impact on addicts who will go to any lengths to feed their habits. The Government is promising robust clinical assessments will be carried out to determine whether people are recreational users or addicts.

Drug testing will force recreational drug users on benefits to put their best foot forward in order to get a job - to make a lifestyle choice in order to get into paid employment and their life back on track.

Employers are right to expect workers to be drug-free while on the job and there is no obligation for taxpayers to fund someone who can't get a job because they choose to use drugs.