Keeping Score 1998

Drug Strategies

Keeping Score 1998

SPOTLIGHT

Welfare Reform and Drug Abuse

One in five welfare recipients has an alcohol or other drug abuse problem, according to a recent study by the Legal Action Center. In contrast, the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) reports much lower rates of dependence, estimating that fewer than one in twelve has an alcohol or other drug problem that meets strict DSM-IV criteria. Regardless of differing estimates, experts in the field believe that substance abuse among welfare recipients is widely under-reported.

Federal welfare reform legislation adopted in 1996 (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families-TANF) has major implications for welfare recipients with substance abuse problems. Many of the affected recipients are women. Over 90 percent of the 3 million households receiving TANF funds in 1998 are headed by women. The law denies welfare benefits to anyone convicted of a drug felony since August 22, 1996, and authorizes states to drug test welfare recipients. States have wide discretion to override sections of the Federal law by passing their own regulations for Medicaid eligibility, drug testing, and the provision of cash benefits and food stamps to drug felons. In the past two years, many states have adopted stricter work requirements and shorter time limits than Congress originally envisioned in welfare reform. Publicly-funded alcohol and other drug treatment services are optional under Medicaid, and some states provide very limited services, or none at all. More than half the states have passed or plan to pass legislation to screen welfare recipients for drug problems.

The success of welfare reform will depend on providing support for mothers in a variety of areas, including substance abuse treatment. At least 400,000 of the 8 million TANF recipients require alcohol or other drug treatment. However, treatment availability is already severely limited. Many complex social problems are linked to alcohol and other drug abuse, including unemployment, chronic poverty, criminal involvement, child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency and teen pregnancy. Without treatment, thousands of women trying to make the transition from welfare to work will face serious difficulties meeting TANF job training and employment requirements.

Several states are proactively dealing with this situation. In Oregon, for example, every regional welfare office is required to include plans for addressing substance abuse in their welfare-to-work programs. The Kansas welfare system (known as KanWork) is becoming a gateway to substance abuse treatment and recovery, as well as economic self-sufficiency. In a 1995 welfare-to-work program with Cessna aircraft, one-in-five KanWork participants referred to Cessna's job training program failed the company's mandatory drug screen. The experience inspired the employment preparation services to collaborate with the state's substance abuse treatment agency. The substance abuse treatment needs of welfare recipients are now integrated into Kansas's income maintenance and employment services program. Prior to the new Federal legislation, Ohio saw a 15 percent reduction in AFDC outlays for women who completed alcohol or drug treatment. Evaluations of the new welfare-to-work programs are underway in several states.

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Spotlight | Methadone Maintenance Treatment | Welfare Reform and Drug Abuse
Women and Drug Abuse: Court Innovations

Programs | Prevention Programs | Pregnant and Parenting Women's Programs
Family Treatment Programs| Criminal Justice Programs

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