Actually, no, the reason why it cost so much was because "the Florida law requires that applicants who pass the test be reimbursed for the cost, an average of $30, the cost to the state was $118,140. This is more than would have been paid out in benefits to the people who failed the test, Mr. Newton said. As a result, the testing cost the government an extra $45,780, he said." (
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/us/no-savings-found-in-florida-welfare-drug-tests.html?_r=0)
The numbers did not go down at all. From that same NYT article, "An internal document about Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, caseloads stated that the drug testing policy, at least from July through September, did not lead to fewer cases."
In addition to this "Central Florida's WFTV found that out of the 40 families that have been tested since the law went into effect on July 1, only two have tested positive for drugs, and one of those cases is going through the appeal process" (
Florida Finds That Not All Welfare Recipients Are Drug-Addled Pillbillies - Hit & Run : Reason.com) and 98% of welfare applicants
passed the drug tests. (
98 Percent of Welfare Applicants Pass Drug Test)
So no, absolutely nothing changed about the number of people on welfare when they were tested for drugs.
BTW, hamsters are awesome!