Overview
Please respond to this prompt from a utilitarianism viewpoint:
Questions to Consider: Random Drug Testing and Utilitarianism
One of the most interesting arguments I’ve heard from past students condoning random drug testing of the American population is Utilitarian in nature. Utilitarianism, as you all know, promotes that action which has the greatest positive effect on the greatest portion of the population. Random drug testing could have a positive effect on the community because it could identify potential drug abusers, which may be harmful to others. This could also have a positive effect on the users being identified if part of the punishment involved coerced drug treatment/rehab. Also, random drug testing would deter citizens from doing drugs in the first place, in fear of being selected for the testing. A Utilitarian might also consider the negative impact that random drug testing would have on the population. First it would cost the government money to perform the random drug testing and it would cost even more money if rehabilitation were given to everyone who tested positive. All of this money would have to be added into the budget and would likely incur higher taxation, so those who were not using drugs or being caught would be the ones who suffer. In the end the negatives and positives must be weighed against each other to make a final educated decision. What do you all think of this argument?