| There are two main schools of thought: | | | | music or watching a video. In addition, teenagers |
| It's the parent's right | | | | like to experiment: some will try drugs just |
| It may damage the trust within a family and | | | | because they are curious and want to find out |
| generate distance between a parent and a child. | | | | what the effects are. |
| Both positions have merit. In the end, it comes | | | | They may experiment with a range of drugs for |
| down to what you as a parent choose is right for | | | | a short time and then stop. They haven't become |
| your family. | | | | 'addicted' or dependent, nor have they suffered |
| The truth is that kids don't always tell their | | | | any lasting effects. The pressure of peers is |
| parents what they need to know. Sometimes | | | | enormous, so it may be easier for teenagers to |
| kids don't know when they're being led down a | | | | have a go than to say no and look uncool. |
| risky pathway. It's easy for a kid to get caught | | | | Teenagers like to rebel and kick out against |
| up in a situation and not know how to get out of | | | | parents' rules. |
| it or how to tell their parents about it. In reality, | | | | Independence is part of growing up. Others want |
| parents are responsible for their child's actions and | | | | the excitement risk-taking brings. Teenagers like |
| are the first to be held responsible when a child | | | | to have a good time and may get pleasure from |
| does something unethical. You might hear, "Where | | | | the effects that drugs bring. Many illegal drugs are |
| were the parents when all this was going on?" or | | | | as cheap as or cheaper than alcohol. Random drug |
| "Why didn't they do something before it got to | | | | testing has not been confirmed to discourage |
| this point?" Where does a parent draw the line | | | | drug use. Urine testing, the most general and |
| between wanting to safeguard, help and educate | | | | inexpensive form of drug testing, is invasive and |
| their child and respecting the child's wish for | | | | alienating. |
| privacy? | | | | The collection of a specimen is an embarrassing |
| When a parent suspects that the teen is dabbling | | | | infringement of privacy, especially uncomfortable |
| in drugs, that parent needs to first talk about the | | | | for an adolescent. Testing is inefficient when it |
| issue with their child, expressing concerns and the | | | | comes to detecting drug problems. Testing |
| desire to help. This technique will keep the focal | | | | detects only a small fraction of users and misses |
| point on the issue of drug use and convey to the | | | | too many who might be in trouble. The vast |
| child that rather than being judged or punished, | | | | majority of drug tests do not test for alcohol. |
| the parent will lend a helping hand. | | | | The concept that students need drug testing to |
| There are exceptions to this open communication. | | | | help them say "no," is questionable. |
| Privacy and parenting is a complicated issue. Trust | | | | Listen to drug-abuse professionals who know that |
| between a teen and a parent is really, really | | | | recognition of problems requires careful attention |
| essential. Work to preserve that trust whenever | | | | to signs such as absence from school, inconsistent |
| possible, except when the teen might be a danger | | | | behavior and falling grades. Study the many |
| to himself or to someone else. The reasons | | | | alternatives, pitfalls and repercussions to random |
| young people take drugs are often comparable to | | | | drug testing. |
| the reasons adults drink and smoke. They're | | | | There simply is no "silver bullet. |
| associated with relaxing with friends, listening to | | | | |