| Do-it-yourself home drug tests are inexpensive | | | | today, and that you face a lot of temptation. We |
| and readily available over the counter. Should you | | | | wouldn't feel like we were doing a good job as |
| drug test your teen? Here are a few things to | | | | parents if we didn't make use of every possible |
| consider while making your decision: | | | | tool at our disposal to support you in making |
| What are you going to do if she tests positive? | | | | healthy choices. |
| First, be aware that the tests are not 100% | | | | We want you to know that we bought a home |
| reliable. A positive result should be confirmed at | | | | drug test today, and we'd like you to take it. |
| your doctor's office. | | | | We've decided it makes sense to randomly test |
| Second, be aware that drug testing is not the | | | | you periodically until you are 18. We hope that |
| same thing as treatment. A confirmed positive | | | | you understand why we are doing this - we care |
| result will require a response from you. | | | | about you very much, and your health and well |
| Will you call a drug and alcohol abuse counselor? | | | | being are very important to us. |
| Will you tell your teen to stop and let her know | | | | Please take this into the bathroom, and when you |
| you will continue testing randomly? | | | | come out, no matter what the results are, we |
| Will you sit down with her and find out what is | | | | want to hear what you think and feel about all of |
| going on in her world, and why she is using? | | | | this. |
| Will you ground her until she turns 18? | | | | Unless she's a civil rights advocate who |
| Will you call the parents of her friends? | | | | passionately advocates for teen privacy laws on |
| Will you rant and rave and threaten and then | | | | the debate team, if your teen freaks out, she is |
| hope you scared her straight? | | | | giving you a big clue about the impending result, |
| Obviously, some of these interventions are more | | | | yes? Give the test anyway. It's very important |
| effective than others! | | | | that you follow through. |
| The point, for the purpose of this article anyway, | | | | Please notice, this talk did not sound like this: I |
| is Plan Ahead. | | | | know you are using drugs and lying to me about |
| What are you going to do if he tests negative? | | | | it! Go take this test right now, and I'll have proof |
| Will you offer a reward or an incentive? | | | | that I am right about you! What red-blooded kid |
| Will you speak a quiet word of appreciation for | | | | could take this sitting down? You'll have a nasty |
| your son's character and good decisions? | | | | power struggle on your hands. If you take |
| Will you scowl and wonder out loud how he | | | | responsibility for it yourself, rather than blaming or |
| cleaned up so fast? | | | | predicting or implying that her character is flawed, |
| Will you coldly remind him that he'll have to do this | | | | things usually go more smoothly. |
| again sometime soon? | | | | Random drug testing can be a fantastic deterrent |
| Will you thank him for his patience and | | | | to peer pressure. "No way, my parents could test |
| understanding? | | | | me anytime!" is a pretty strong reason to Just |
| How are you going to bring it up? | | | | Say No that other kids easily understand. Start |
| The best time to do this is before you suspect | | | | testing while they are in middle school to |
| she is involved with drugs. However, if it's too late | | | | maximize this benefit, and keep it up all the way |
| for that, here's one possible way to broach the | | | | until high school graduation. It will just become a |
| subject. | | | | way of life for your teenager. |
| Honey, we know it's tough to be a teenager | | | | |