| There are some serious issues surrounding the | | | | 2 The tests can be wrong |
| use of home drug testing kits, and although | | | | Drug testing as performed in professional |
| parents can be tempted by these affordable and | | | | laboratories is very accurate, but the home drug |
| easy to use options, they need to weigh carefully | | | | tests as sold to parents are nowhere near as |
| the full implications of enacting a policy of home | | | | good, and an independent lab test reveals that |
| drug testing, and evaluate the risks as well as the | | | | they can be off by as much as 40% with false |
| benefits. | | | | negatives. |
| The benefits are clear, and if parents have | | | | Parents may not handle the tests or sample |
| concrete and irrefutable evidence of drug or | | | | correctly, and may get incorrect results. A |
| alcohol use they can discipline appropriately and | | | | negative result may incorrectly assure parents |
| effectively, and they are also in a great position | | | | that everything is OK; when all else in life says |
| to intervene should the use become abuse or | | | | that things are not. |
| dependence. | | | | Kids can also beat the tests, and a quick internet |
| Parents may also hope that drug tests may | | | | search reveals hundreds of websites set up to |
| serve as deterrents to use, and if kids know that | | | | supply the masking agents needed to ensure a |
| there is a high probability that any drug used on | | | | negative results. These masking agents are not |
| Friday may be discovered by parents on Sunday, | | | | expensive, and your kids can get them easily. |
| they may be more reluctant to experiment. | | | | They may also perform crude but effective |
| But there are some disadvantages too: | | | | techniques as basic as adding water to urine. |
| 1 The loss of trust | | | | 3 How do you get a sample from a teen who |
| Teens seek autonomy and hope for trust and | | | | doesn't want to be tested? |
| respect from their parents. When parents enact a | | | | The realities and logistics of drug testing may |
| program of drug testing at home, even though it's | | | | demand of you to physically remove hair from |
| done out of love and concern, the act sends a | | | | your teen, to physically take a saliva sample, or |
| clear message to teens highly attuned to any | | | | too watch you teen pass a urine sample...all things |
| actions of distrust. | | | | very distasteful to parents who love their kids. |
| You may catch them taking drugs or you may | | | | There are some clear advantages, but the |
| not, but if you damage an already tenuous | | | | problems and issues of trust surrounding the |
| teen-parent trust relationship, they may not be as | | | | enactment of a policy of home drug testing calls |
| inclined to seek your help and advice when they | | | | for a careful evaluation of the relative need for, |
| grapple with other equally serious problems of | | | | and the potential costs of, such a policy. |
| adolescence (pregnancy, STD's...). | | | | |