SINGLED OUT

Keller's bill on drug testing raises too many questions

Rep. Wes Keller of Wasilla wants the state to require both random and
suspicion-based drug testing on adults who apply for public
assistance, and require treatment for those who fail two tests. His
bill raises too many issues -- privacy, just what constitutes a basis
of suspicion for testing, why applicants of public assistance are
being singled out, and just how to define what level of alcohol
consumption interferes with a recipient's ability to get and hold a
job.

There also are questions of costs, training and cost effectiveness --
just how successful would such a program be in reducing or preventing
substance abuse and all its attendant evils -- domestic violence,
child abuse and neglect and petty crime? If the state mandates
treatment, are enough treatment programs available?

And is it fair to single out welfare recipients? In his sponsor
statement, Keller writes:

"The cost of substance abuse in Alaska is staggering. Crime, child
abuse, broken homes, domestic violence, cost of business, auto and
industrial accidents, poor productivity, chronic health problems all
have a causal relationship with substance abuse. It is irrational to
expect the government to provide compassionate assistance without
giving it the ability to identify substance abuse problems."

You could make the same statement and substitute Permanent Fund
dividend checks for compassionate assistance -- "It is irrational to
expect the government to issue Permanent Fund dividend checks
without giving it the ability to identify substance abuse problems."

Ask social service providers and others who work with troubled
families about how they brace themselves when the dividend checks go
out each fall, and they see spikes in substance abuse, spousal abuse
and child neglect.

Rep. Keller argues that public assistance is voluntary, so he sees no
problem with mandatory testing. Well, so is the dividend program
voluntary. No one must apply for a dividend check. Shall we randomly
test PFD applicants? Alaskans wouldn't stand for a such a program.
Why should poor Alaskans stand for this one? Like Rep. Keller, we'd
like to see an end to substance abuse in Alaska. Like Rep. Keller, we
don't want to see public money spent to feed toxic habits that
multiply individual, family and social misery.

But even he grants the bill needs work. Reworked with tighter
definitions, any bill must meet the fundamental test of fairness.

Rep. Keller said he wants to provide the Department of Health and
Social Services another tool to reduce both substance abuse and abuse
of public money. This bill looks more like an invitation to
litigation than the right tool for the job.

BOTTOM LINE: Goal of Keller's bill is worthy; the means raise too
many issues.